VANDALS have driven bowlers from an idyllic green.

And now Atherton people are demanding action so they can continue to pursue their favourite sport in peace.

A deputation of more than 20 bowlers met MP Andy Burnham and Atherton councillor Sue Loudon at the Atherton Park municipal bowling green and voiced their concerns.

Spokesman for the bowlers, Alf Davies, of Leigh Road, Howe Bridge, explained: "Several teams used to bowl at the Morley Street green and I always enjoyed going there to watch - it's Atherton's last beauty spot.

"But it's a pale shadow of what it used to be. And in Leigh Lilford Park bowling green seems to have been lost to the yob element.

"This has been going on for years but has gradually got worse.

"The problem is worse between 6pm and 10pm in summer. Teenagers skid their bikes down the hill and because there is no fencing ride across the green and play football on it. After the bowlers have gone young drinkers use it as a meeting place and damage the green.

"One team got so fed-up bowlers packed in at Morley Street and moved to the private green at Morgan's club."

Mr Davies said in the past Atherton councillor Bob Splaine had been sympathetic to the bowlers' complaints and tried to help. Now they were hoping the weight of their MP and local councillor Sue Loudon would get action.

"We've asked the council to put up a fence and we think security should be stepped-up between 6pm and 10pm. If the local authority can't afford four hours of security until the gates are locked then we've lost the plot. I don't think it's too much to ask if it will give people a decent facility."

Margaret Glover is also concerned about teenagers' lack of respect for their elders and the way some treat bowling greens.

She told the Journal that she and her husband, Jim, had witnessed footballers playing on the green at Pennington Park in Leigh and claimed yobs had run onto the turf during games and run-off with bowls during the day-time at Atherton Park.

After meeting bowlers Cllr Sue Loudon said: "We met the bowlers at Morley Street to see if we could help them through a particular problem with vandalism of the facility there.

"We have formulated some ideas but need to talk them through with the Leisure Trust and meet with representatives of the Veterans Bowling Club.

"This has to be a partnership attack on vandalism and anti-social behaviour we need neighbours and users of the park to report any anti-social behaviour to the Police as soon as it happens. Even if the Police cannot attend because they are involved in a serious crime at least it will be recorded on their data base.

"The park will then be recorded as a hot spot for problems and gain more attention from patrols."