NEW plans for the former Lea Bank school have been welcomed by the campaign group set up to object to a previous development idea.

Hurstwood Developments had planned to build 15 houses on the Rawtenstall site which prompted more than 1,000 letters of objection.

Those plans have now been scaled down to just seven properties and all seven are to be developed by refurbishing existing buildings on site. The only new buildings will be small extensions to each property.

Rebecca Lawlor, organiser of the Save Lea Bank Campaign, said: "We have looked at what is now proposed and we have got what we wanted to see. We have saved the buildings and the woodland.

"What we are now going to look into is to form a trust to try to maintain the woodland in that area so everyone can enjoy it for years to come."

When the former school closed, Accrington and Rossendale College took over Lea Bank and used the buildings for students.

The original application saw the main building being demolished -- in the new plan it will be converted into three properties.

Rebecca said: "We are pleased that with what we have seen and we feel it has been a victory because Hurstwood Developments and Accrington and Rossendale College have listened to what we have had to say."

She said the campaign group would continue to fight environmental issues in Rossendale, such as the proposed sale of part of Tricketts Memorial Ground in Waterfoot.