A DECADE ago, great play was made of what a little-recognised resource East Lancashire had in its midst in the shape of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Bold development plans were put together for wasteland and derelict buildings bordering the canal and studies carried out which highlighted what an attractive leisure asset it could be if renovated with care and thought.

Since then, a considerable amount of time and money has been concentrated on doing just that.

The result is a waterway with properly maintained towpaths where people walk, run, cycle and enjoy themselves especially as summer approaches.

But sadly, as fast as some people work to improve this previous artery running through East Lancashire others seem hell bent on wrecking it.

The canal itself, especially where it runs through Blackburn from Feniscowles to Whitebirk is littered with all kinds of household rubbish, disused domestic appliances, discarded vehicle parts, prams and bicycles.

Elsewhere there are places where thoughtless mountain bike and motorbike riders have churned up paths.

Now 100 young trees planted alongside the towpath at Rishton have been ripped up within hours

The culprits should be severely punished - but only after being forced to repair the damage.