A RESIDENTS' group is trying to encourage a sense of pride in a Victorian park to force out persistent troublemakers.

An exhibition celebrating Bold Venture Park will be staged at Darwen Library from Saturday, featuring old photos and historical information.

The Friends of Bold Venture Park, which was set up by residents last year after concerns over juvenile vandalism, have organised the event to illustrate the beauty spot's value to the community.

Group member Gerald Bartrupe, who gathered the old photos, said: "We want to take back our park from the yobs."

He said that daily from 8pm up to 50 teenagers congregated at the park, damaging telephone boxes, park benches and equipment and generally causing a nuisance.

In school holidays the problem worsens and police regularly have to put extra patrols around the park at night.

"It's frightening for people who live in the Belgrave area, many of whom are elderly," he said.

"It's intimidating. We are trying to get rid of a vandalism and make it a lot safer for people to come in and enjoy the park.

"We want to make people proud that we have a decent park which residents and visitors can enjoy in peace and where they can take children in safety."

Mr Bartrupe has collected 60 photos dating back to 1864. They have been arranged like a walk through the park, with each old picture next a snap of how the area looks today.

"The park has a lot of history and there has been many changes," said Mr Bartrupe. "We want to make people more aware of the place and what is happening to it."

He is also looking for photos or drawings pre-1864 when the park area was the site of two quarries.

Anyone who can help should can Mr Bartrupe on 01254 760556.

The exhibition, in the library's main exhibition room, runs until June 14. It can be viewed from 9.30am each day; on Mondays and Wednesdays until 7pm, Tuesdays until 1pm, Thursday and Fridays until 5pm and Saturdays until 4.30pm.