BURNLEY'S bandstand is set to be fenced off in a bid to protect shoppers from dangerous skateboarders who are plaguing the town centre.

The four-and-a-half foot fence, part of a £6,500 scheme, could be given the go-ahead by councillors tonight in a bid to protect members of the public.

A large number of youths use the bandstand, which is in the pedestrianised town centre opposite McDonalds, because the structure and the access steps pose a particular challenge.

But this has become disruptive for pedestrians and shoppers and Burnley Council believes it increasing posing a danger.

Coun Roger Frost recently called for a by-law banning skateboarders from the bandstand and nearby traders backed the call saying that they present a risk to the safety of shoppers.

Today Michelle Brown, 29, owner of Oliver Twist's sandwich bar, said the problem had got much worse during the recent school holidays.

She said: "They come right up to the shop window and how they've not broken it yet I don't know. A fence may be a good idea but if they want to get in they will. Could they not just jump over it?

"If we were an eating place with chairs and tables outside I would be even more angry. Hopefully it may get a bit better once the children have gone back to school.

"I think the council need to get on with building them somewhere else to do it that's the only way they will move."

Rob Teague, of The Car Shop, in St James Street, said: "They would still play on it even if they put a fence up.

The only way to move them is to build somewhere else."

The owner of another local business, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "Some of our customers have been concerned about them skateboarding nearby and the noise is incredible. I think the fence is a good idea."

Nick Aves, director of finance, said: "While it should be effective in removing skateboarders from the bandstand area it would not necessarily mean that they would cease using the central area altogether.

"There is a possibility that the problems would just be displaced to other areas. Nevertheless if the council accepts there is a problem, and therefore a potential risk, it must take all reasonable steps to prevent the area being used for this purpose."

The Burnley executive committee have agreed to proposals to build a skate park in Queen's Park but town centre manager, Lisa Durkin, believes the youths would still prefer to hang around the town centre.

She is currently looking in to an alternative way of fencing off the bandstand area, which would be more visibly attractive, but at a greater cost.

She said: "What we are trying to do is put measures in place to make it less attractive to skate on mainly because of the health and safety risk and implications."

Members of Burnley Council's executive will consider the option of installing a fence tonight and will be asked to decide whether the work should go ahead.

They will also be asked to give approval in principle to the adoption of a by law barring skateboarding in the central area.