Keep kids in line plea to parents TEARAWAY vandals are costing Hyndburn £75,000 a year in repairs to parks and playgrounds.

A youth football team has been forced to cancel all its home games for the season after yobs drove a tractor across a playing field in Oswaldtwistle.

Now Coun Brian Walmsley has appealed to the parents of the troublemakers to bring their youngsters back into line.

And residents have told councillors and council officers they are afraid to use the public parks.

The incident involving the tractor, on Heys playing field, Heron Way, last month is just the latest in a long line of vandal attacks.

Last weekend, youngsters riding scrambler quads caused £5,000 worth of damage to White Ash playing fields.

Other pitches have been put out of action after a spate of incidents, including the burning of cars on Bullough Park in Accrington.

Today, Oswaldtwistle councillor Walmsley, who holds the portfolio for leisure on Hyndburn Council's cabinet, said: "The money we are spending on repairing this mindless damage is money which should be being spent on improving facilities.

"A new play park costs £40,000 but the money we would dearly love to spend like that is going on the repairs.

"If youngsters don't want to enjoy the facilities we offer, then fine, they don't have to but they shouldn't go along and destroy everybody else's pleasure as well."

Parks officer Andrew Hayhurst said: "This is a massive problem for us and affects virtually every area in this borough. People are telling us they don't feel safe using the parks any more.

"Signs pointing out the bylaws, such as not using motor vehicles, tend to vanish as well."

Coun Walmsley added: "This situation has to stop. Residents fear for life and limb when going into areas they are supposed to feel safe in.

"Parents need to keep their youngsters in check. After all, it is their council tax which is being used to repair the damage, and that tax should be being used to provide services and improve people's lives."

The police have been informed of the vandalism, with a spokesman saying: "We urge anyone with information about who is responsible to come forward."