THE headmaster of an Oswaldtwistle school has spoken out to dispel rumours that one of its playing fields will be sold off to developers.

Barry Burke, of Rhyddings County High, said that although The Heys playing field was unused, the school would continue to own the land so it could be utilised by the community.

He said: "It is sacrosanct. We couldn't sell it off, even if we wanted to."

Mr Burke said that rumours started circulating after a number of local football teams were stopped from playing on the field for health and safety reasons after bikers had ploughed up the pitch.

They had managed to get on to the field, half-a-mile from the school off Heron Way, along with quad bike users and horse riders, through gaps in the surrounding security fence.

He also said that the school had stopped using the field after it bought a plot of land for playing fields behind the Haworth Street site last September.

The school's new technology block will open on the same site on Monday March 3, the old one in Union Road will become a pupil referral unit.

But after a meeting with local and county councillors, the county council and the borough council, he said they would not only be keeping the field but would look at ways to repair the fence and stop the bikers.

Mr Burke, who has been head for five years, said he was very encouraged by the meeting.

Although they were just in the initial phase, he remained convinced that they would be able to get a grant to repair the fence to make it properly secure.

"For the first time we had an action plan which all there agreed with and I am really optimistic.

"We are going to look at ways to get money. There are lots of grants and pots of money out there.

"We had a quote a couple of years back and it was in the region of £10,000. We already spend quite an amount on the maintenance of the fields, about £8,000. But we don't have the money to rebuild the fence.

"What I want is for the community to know that the field is for local residents and for them to keep an eye on it in the meantime so we can stop these people ruining the pitches. It's heartbreaking sometimes when you hear of horses and bikes going on it and ruining it after the maintenance teams have worked hard to repair it."

Brendan Lyons, head of planning at Hyndburn Council, said: "The fields are in green belt land and there is no developmental potential for it.

"It can only be used for leisure purposes like football."