AN MP is backing a campaign to stop healthy trees being felled in a town where he used to collect conkers as a child.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pole is alarmed at plans to chop down dozens of horse chestnut trees around the playing fields in Great Harwood Memorial Park, where he played as a youngster.

The borough council said the trees have to come down because most of them are diseased.

But local residents said any healthy trees should be saved to preserve a valuable area of natural beauty.

They want felling stopped at least until the next meeting of Great Harwood's area council next week.

While Mr Pope accepts that some trees may have to come down and that there is urgent work being carried out to improve the playing fields, he is backing the worried residents.

Mr Pope, born and brought up in Great Harwood, said: "I strongly support local residents in their campaign to save the remaining trees, at the very least until next week's area council meeting when local people can express their views.

"The views from Memorial Park across to Pendle Hill are very beautiful and the trees are an integral part of the landscape.

"I am sure that everybody in Great Harwood knows and loves this area.

"I grew up in Great Harwood and have many happy memories of climbing these trees for conkers as a boy.

"I am very concerned that the council seems intent on chopping down our heritage. I have been contacted by lots of local people and I am in touch with the council to see if anything can be done."