PADIHAM people power has saved the day after Burnley Council scrapped plans to sell off a green in the town.

The council planned to sell the 1,000 square metre land known as Padiham Green to a private developer, and the council's executive was due to discuss the sale.

However, after the town council and residents pleaded for the sale not to go ahead the matter was taken off the agenda.

Today the Mayor of Padiham, Coun Mark Jinkinson said now the future of the site had being secured and he hoped the town council could take over control of the land -- at the side of St Anne's and St Elizabeth's Church.

He said: "We are very pleased that the council has seen sense.

"It is the green, and if it had been sold there would not have being any alternative open space to use.

"People power has won in the end and common sense has prevailed."

Coun Bob Clark said concerned residents contacted him about the loss of the land, which is at the junction of Green Street and Hapton Road.

He said: "It is a precious piece of land, as being a play area for the people of Padiham for generations and is a safe area for children to play.

"There was grave concern when people found out but now the people of the green area are delighted the land has been saved."

The 129-year-old church was forced to close last year because of dwindling congregations. The building has since been sold to a private developer who intends to renovate it into two houses.

Phil Denson, who lives opposite the green said he was devastated when he found out about the plans to sell the green.

He said: "They are pulling down places in Burnley to create green spaces and then they tried take away the one in Padiham.

"I am over the moon it has being saved."

Council leader Stuart Caddy said the land was an asset which should not be lost.

He added: "The proposed sale would have meant the loss of a valuable amenity space for the people of Padiham and this is not what the Council aims are."