A MAJOR £50,000 clean-up at the historic grounds of an old hall has been completed.

Land surrounding Arden Hall, Accrington, which was demolished half-a-century ago, had fallen into disrepair.

Now, thanks to the work of a new friends group, the site is on its way to returning to its former glory.

Coun Graham Jones, one of the driving forces behind the Friends of Arden Hall group, said the improvements were "great news" for everyone in the area.

He said: "Arden Hall is a fantastic place but the lack of maintenance over the decades has seen it fall into dilapidation.

"It has the potential to be one of Hyndburn's great leisure areas."

More than £38,000 has already been spent to improve the open space with work on ponds, footpaths, plantlife and the near-derelict allot-ments which have now been restored.

Now a further £12,000 has been secured to restore the historic gateway to the park, off Plantation Street.

The gates were removed during the Second World War.

Coun Jones, leader of Hyndburn Labour group, said: "The new gates are the same as the originals, made of heavy wrought iron.

He added: "A few years ago this park was horrific. There was vandalism, fires and horrible fencing. It was a complete eyesore.

"That is now changing and the park is already becoming really popular."

The cash for the work has come from Lancashire County Coun-cil, Bootstrap Enter-prises, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust and the European Regional Development Fund.

County Coun Wendy Dwyer said: "I hope this project will prove to be just the start of a larger process.

"The Friends of Arden Hall, who have pushed hard on this, have done a great job."

The Friends of Arden Hall are now seeking further funding to continue improvements to the park's pathways.

An official unveiling of the new gates takes place next Tuesday.