A RISHTON school wants to cut down trees -- because they are shedding leaves on its £300,000 all-weather sports pitch.

Norden High School and Sports College, which has received a number of injury claims because of slips on the surface caused by leaves, is fighting plans to place protection orders on the troublesome trees.

The school wants to fell some trees because leaves cannot be swept up regularly through lack of funds.

But after putting a provisional tree protection order on the trees, Hyndburn Council wants to make the orders permanent, arguing the trees make a "significant contribution to the local landscape" and are in good form and health.

The trees include willow, cherry, poplar, acers, larch, ash, birch, sycamore, elder and sitka spruce.

Bob Sibbert, grounds support officer for Lancashire County Council, has written to the council's planning committee on behalf of the school.

In his letter he claims that a weekly maintenance regime, which included removing leaves and debris, had proved too costly for Hyndburn Council, and had been reduced to a fortnightly sweep-up.

This had resulted in an increase in the number of accidents on the pitch, which is used not only by pupils but as a community facility.

He added: "Obviously it was never our intention to remove all the trees, but to carry out responsible management and deal with the area in a sympathetic way and in consultation with Hyndburn Council."

A report to the planning committee by council officers states that the order has been made to control any possible felling of trees near the school.

But it points out that applications can still be made by the school to undertake works to the trees, including felling.

The report says: "The tree preservation order control now in place will ensure that these decisions are made on a sound forestry basis and in a broader context that includes the wider visual landscape.

"The objection by the school relates primarily to the practical difficulties of maintaining a leisure asset and not to the health or landscape value of the trees.

"It is more usual for valid objections to deal with issues such as whether or not the trees are worthy of protection due to lack of prominence or poor condition."