Residents have voiced concerns about a disused mill that has become a ‘playground’ for children.

York Mill in Livesey Street, Rishton, was once home to former Accrington Stanley chairman Eric Whalley’s packaging firm EW Cartons and was part-demolished last August.

While the building was flattened, the walls stayed, and neighbours say they have had to endure the site becoming a magnet for metal thieves and anti-social behaviour.

People have complained on Facebook about the site. One said a pressure group could focus efforts on doing something about disused mills in the town, while another said leaflets could garner support.

Paul Savage, 63, has lived on Livesey Street for 30 years and regularly sees children playing on the walls and trying to get on the site.

He said: “My wife has cleared kids away from trying to get into the site on several occasions since the demolition.

“Since the demolition was done, I can’t recall seeing anyone checking over the site.”

Mr Savage praised local councillor Ken Moss who he said had ‘taken interest in our case and made efforts to help get something done.’ Coun Moss said: “The thing about any derelict building is it’s like a playground for kids. I would urge people to stay away from it. There’s quite a few empty sites in Rishton and they all attract kids. There are Prikka Strips (anti-climb spikes) which could be a solution to try and keep them out.

“The owners have tried to make it tidy and there are warning signs but I can see where residents are coming from. The only way to solve the problem properly is if the site was built on.”

The site has been given outline planning permission for houses, an ‘in-principle’ agreement, but no full application has been submitted.

No one from EW Cartons was available for comment.