WORLD War one heroes are to be remembered in a Rossendale peace garden if enough funding can be gathered.

More than 80 people from Stacksteads died and in remembrance of this, each veteran is to have his name inscribed on to a monument.

The statue is to stand in the town's Peace Gardens, which were formerly known as the Blind Gardens.

The Peace Gardens need to be given a much needed boost after vandals and litter louts targeted the gardens.

Enhanced with railings, a rebuilt wall and new shrubs, these will be just a few of the new features which have been designed to help deter the vandals.

Local councillor Michael McShea applied to Rossendale Council for money from the community chest to complete work on the area which started in 1995.

He has now secured a £2,000 grant from the community chest but needs another £4,500 to be able to round off the work.

The peace garden, behind the bus shelter at Toll Bar, Newchurch Road, is supposed to be a quiet area for people to enjoy, but, instead, has been plighted by the local youths who hang out near the bus stop.

Coun McShea said: "The gardens were created for people who went blind just after the First World War. It got extremely neglected and then the youngsters started using it as a hang out point.

"We decided to apply for some funding to help get it back to the way it should be"

If anybody would like to make any contributions then they should contact Michael on 01706 874607.