A RESIDENTS' group has demanded that a council provides better protection for a park vandalised three times in a week.

Martha Henry, the secretary of the Corporation Park Supporters' Group , said events had left residents ''heartbroken".

They say a solution must be found or the grounds would become a no go area.

Yesterday Blackburn with Darwen Council admitted previous strategies to defend the park had been a failure.

Tom Wilson, head of outdoor amenities, pledged to work with police to beat the vandals once and for all.

Mr Wilson will meet the the group at its monthly meeting next Monday night at Leamington Road Baptist Church Hall, Granville Road, Blackburn.

Mrs Henry said the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the council had come at a perfect time following the vandalism.

Twice during the past week, glass panels from the Victorian conservatory were smashed under the shadow of a CCTV system. Five park benches on the East Park Road side were destroyed after being set alight.

"A small group of people have decided to ruin it for others," said Mrs Henry.

"We've all been heartbroken by the recent vandalism. If there is a feeling of danger it puts people off. It becomes a no go area.

"There is no point in saying we cannot do anything. We have to try something.

"We have said to the council that there needs to be some presence in the park. There needs to be some form of action by the council.

Mrs Henry said the time had come to take action because £2 million had been provisionally awarded from the lottery this year to restore the park to its Victorian splendour.

She said the vandals must be stopped and prevented from wrecking those plans.

"It isn't something that is being ignored by us. We will not allow this to happen and demand they listen to us, as they have in the past." The CPSG was set up in 1995 and is made up of 40 of the area's residents, who try to work with various organisations to look after the park.