THE leader of a council has demanded to know who built a controversial fountain that does not work so he can see if compensation can be claimed.

Coun Peter Britcliffe made the announcement after Hyndburn MP Greg Pope labelled the fountain outside Scaitcliffe House, Accrington, a "joke" and called on Hyndburn Council to repair or replace it.

Coun Britcliffe also said he hoped to draw up plans in October this year for the replacement of the fountain, with work to start in Spring 2004.

The 80ft by 10ft fountain was built using £150,000 of European Regional Development Fund (RDF) money in 1999 and has only worked, briefly, twice.

Coun Britcliffe said he has been in discussion with the town's Civic Trust about their idea of using part of the Ashton Frost steam engine, symbolising the town's industrial past, to replace the fountain.

But Nigel Rix, Director of Hyndburn First, the council's development arm, said they were currently in discussion with the North West Development Agency to look at ways of getting funding for redevelopment of site of which the fountains are a small part.

Mr Rix had said he did not know off hand who built the fountain, and probably would not tell if he did because it was wrong to accuse others when the fault probably lay with the council for not maintaining it properly.

Coun Britcliffe said: "I think for years we have been fobbed off. I have never liked this fountain, it has never worked properly and has always reminded me of a public convenience."