JUBILANT residents were celebrating today after winning their fight to prevent a communal playing field from being sold to private developers.

Residents living in Ashworth Road, Waterfoot, are now planning to apply to Rossendale Council to transform the land into a registered village green.

They want to prevent any more potential developers from homing in on the land locally known as 'Pearcy' and preserve it for community use.

Angry locals sent a petition to Rossendale Council to voice their concerns over losing the land, which has been used by children living in the area for the past 30 years.

David Windle, 42, and his family are now helping to lead the fight to ensure the land remains as Rossendale Borough Council owned, by establishing it as a village green.

He said the land is used for football and other sports as well as picnics in the summer months.

David, a taxi driver, who lives with his wife Karen, 38, and two sons, Stewart, four, and Ryan, 10, said: "We are all absolutely delighted by this news. We would have been devastated if we were to lose the land.

"The children around here need somewhere to play. It's perfect because it's used by youngsters and elderly people to enjoy the open air."

"All 36 residents living here signed the petition as they all feel very strongly about the land being kept for use by the community."

Christine Sheasby, estates officer at Rossendale Borough Council, said: "We decided not to sell the land for the residential amenity value. It's a piece of land which is nicely landscaped and maintained to help enhance the visual impact to the neighbourhood, rather than sell it off, for the benefit of the community."