ROLLER bladers and skateboarders have been accused of "desecrating" the Peel monument and Bury Parish Church.

A funeral mourner suffered an accident because the church steps were so slippy due to youngsters riding on them, says Tory councillor Roy Walker.

He called for a bylaw to ban skateboarding in the town centre including the Interchange and Market Place.

However, it has emerged that Bury did bring in a bylaw in 1979 prohibiting skateboarding in pedestrian areas, with a fine of £50 for culprits, but no-one has yet been prosecuted. Coun Walker described the staining to the Peel monument as "desecration of a memorial to one of the greatest sons of this country. It's even worse along the parish church steps. Elderly people have been run into after dark."

He wanted to know if the community safety wardens could take people's names and fine them. He also asked town hall officers to draw up plans for skateboard facilities in different parts of the borough.

Council leader John Byrne said that, to enforce the existing bylaw, the council would have to prove to magistrates that skateboarding posed a danger to other people. He also said that the problems arose outside the hours of the wardens scheme.

However, Coun Byrne told the council meeting that the local authority was reviewing all its bylaws.

New ones, introduced under a "fast track" scheme, could include skateboarding and roller blading, with fines greater than the current £50.

Coun Byrne said Ramsbottom has a skateboarding facility, and there are plans for more in Radcliffe and Prestwich. A petition has been received for one in Tottington.