A SMALL part of Colne's heritage has been saved by the swift actions of a 66-year-old resident.

When pensioner Marion King, of Basil Street, in Waterside, opened her front door and discovered workmen digging up the stone flagged pavement at the end of her street she was furious.

She was told by the men, who were sent by Pendle Borough Council last week, that they were lifting the stone slabs and taking them away to replace them with asphalt.

But because of her complaints that the new path would be too slippy in bad weather the council has now promised to put the stones slabs back.

As soon as Mrs King heard of the plans to uproot the pavement, she contacted her ward councillor Tim Ormrod to try to save the flags.

Coun Ormrod contacted the Highways and Transportation Department and told them he was not consulted on this decision and that the residents of Basil Street were not notified.

The following day he received a phone call to say the flags would be re-laid and he managed to stop the workmen who were already on their way to Basil Street to lay the new pavement.

Mrs King was delighted when the old flags reappeared and thanked Coun Ormrod for his help.

She said: "For years we have fought to keep the cobbles and flags in Basil Street because we are hemmed in by asphalt and when it's slippy and you want to go into town it's like a death trap.

"Your pay your rates and fight to keep your area nice and then they just go ahead and pull it up. "They are putting them back now and I am very pleased. They said that bit would cost £1,000 to do. Well I've paid £500 in Council Tax so that would pay for half of it. We are very lucky and have done well to save them.

"Everyone else in the street is happy too especially the people who have lived here a long time."

Coun Ormrod said: "The flags were slightly uneven and another resident had complained to the council about them. They had obviously come along and assessed it and just thought we will pull them up and asphalt it, which is what they usually do unless it's a main street or in a conservation area because it's the cheapest option.

"The flag stones they lift are put in a yard and used for other parts of the borough like the conservation areas."

"I am pleased the local residents contacted me as swiftly as they did and that by the skin of our teeth we managed to ensure that these traditional flagstones were saved and old Colne's heritage is ensured for the foreseeable future in this part of Waterside."