SKATEBOARDERS have returned to Burnley town centre bandstand just days after work finished on a £6,500 project to try to get rid of them.

And the skaters are using the supposed deterrents to practise their latest stunts.

The council carried out the two-week scheme after a flood of complaints from traders and businesses about the antics of the skaters.

But despite a special ridged surface around the bandstand and fences on the end and one side, the skaters were back in force over the weekend, prompting angry reaction from businesses in St James' Street. Council bosses have now said further measures may be needed.

One Burnley trader, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "This work has taken around two weeks and it has all been for nothing. They came back straight away. They are usually quite well behaved but can get very noisy and rowdy during the day."

The trader added: "It's going to take a serious accident before the council actually do anything to stop the skateboarders using the bandstand.

"They are using it as a new way to create stunts which look rather dangerous."

Councillors agreed last September to put up a fence around the bandstand to deter skaters. Despite delays in the work it was completed last week. Former mayor and Coalclough with Deerplay Ward Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: "These skaters are a pest and are dangerous.

"The council must have taken advice on how to try to stop them but if these measures are not working then the situation needs to be looked at again."

Rita Walsh, secretary of the town's Chamber of Trade added: "It looks as though further measures will be needed. I will be speaking to traders to find out what they think."

Work is currently underway to get a permanent skate park in Queen's Park off the ground. Tenders for the work and for CCTV camera installation have been put in to the council.

The adoption of a by-law to control skateboarding in certain parts of the borough is another option being considered by the council.

The borough council's head of legal services is currently preparing a report on the possibility of bringing in a by-law.