A PLAYING field could be transformed into a haven for youngsters in a bid to reduce juvenile nuisance.

Council bosses have submitted an application for funding to Sport England, the lottery funded organisation, for cash to back the project.

They want to make Memorial Playing Field in Great Harwood more suitable for youngsters by flattening it out to accommodate better pitches.

The field has been in need of repair for some time and council chiefs hope the lottery cash could be the answer.

Coun Win Frankland, chairman of Great Harwood Area Council, said: "The council has submitted an application to Sport England's Pitch Improvement Scheme' for the levelling of part of the Memorial Playing Fields.

"We are currently in discussion with Sport England about the proposals.

"The discussions are progressing well, but we will not know the outcome of the application for some time.

"A planning application has been submitted and survey work has been carried out on the site."

County councillor George Slynn, who represents Great Harwood, said: "This area has been in desperate need of improvement.

"To make sure we get the money, we need to make sure Hyndburn Council has money to back up the bid and do a proper job on the site."

At a meeting of Great Harwood Area Council, residents expressed a desire to see the work completed quickly to provide youngsters with somewhere to play rather than cause a nuisance on the streets.

Insp Steven Lee of Great Harwood Police said: "We are supporting the proposals for improvements at this site."

"There are problems in the town with juvenile nuisance and we are looking at a number of options at the moment."

The grant applied for is believed to be in the region of £50,000.

Last year, the council scooped £357,000 from Sport England cash to refurbish King George V Playing Fields in Royds Avenue, Accrington.

Pitch improvements were made and a new clubhouse is being constructed on the site to cater for cricket and football teams.