RESIDENTS across Darwen are being asked to attend a crisis meeting tonight,arranged to work out what to do with flood-ravaged Sunnyhurst Woods.

Council officers and members of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods will be at the meeting, being held little more than a week after torrential rain wrecked large areas of the popular Darwen park.

The flash floods left a 40ft by 12ft chasm at the woods, damaged two bridges and washed away all the footpaths.

The cost of the repairs have been put at £500,000 and the public are being asked to play their part in restoring the park.

Dennis Gillibrand, chairman of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods, said today: "It is an extraordinary general meeting. The council will be there and, hopefully, they will be able to update us on what they are doing."

The Friends' annual summer gala was due to be held last weekend but had to be called off because of damage caused by the floods.

Mr Gillibrand added: "I think it will be a case of us carrying on fund-raising and doing what we can.

"We want as many people to attend as possible so we can give things a real go."

The problems in Sunnyhurst Woods arose when a pond's overflow became blocked with silt, which sent gallons of water down the valley.

Some 60 tonnes of rubble were washed down on to Sunnyhurst Lane and Borough Road.

Coun Kate Hollern, in charge of leisure and culture, has pledged council support and said a series of internal meetings had been held to see what action could be taken.

Tonight's meeting is at 7.15pm in Old England Kiosk within the Sunnyhurst Woods grounds.