YOUNGSTERS in the Accrington Road area of Burnley are to present a "save our green" petition to the local council.

The children of the area use a piece of open land known as "the green" at Wilfield Place for sports and are calling for it to be kept as an open space.

Earlier this year residents from Trinity Towers, Accrington Road and Mitre areas successfully fought a planning application to build flats on the site.

Chairman of the Caring Accrington Road Residents Group Liz Monk said: "Our area is hemmed in by three very busy roads.

"Over the years the green has become a much valued local amenity where children can kick a ball and play cricket in relative safety."

She said a new local plan for Burnley would determine the use of land in the borough for the following ten years.

She added: "The children have organised a petition asking the borough and county councils to reallocate the land they own, known locally as 'the green at Wilfield Place' as open space so that it is protected for future generations."

The petition will be handed over to council leader Stuart Caddy and local county councillor Tony Martin on the Town Hall steps on Friday at 4pm.

After accepting the petition Coun Caddy will give the children a tour of their Town Hall.