WILDLIFE concern rose as water levels dropped on Hindley Green flood lands.

And Carr Common community activists Sue and John Vickers say they were asked to help stop The Floods being drained.

Mr Vickers says the Dangerous Corner floodland (pictured before and after) is being drained by the Council in response to complaints that a footpath used by school children was under water.

He says: "What has been achieved is the degradation of a lovely stretch of water, a visual delight and a pleasure to walk around, in order to encourage children to use an isolated, unlit footpath, frequented by joyriders and motorbike scramblers.

"People are concerned for the swans, which are being shot at by airgunners, and other wildlife and fear plans to develop yet more of Hindley Green.

"It is ironic that the Council is prepared to take such drastic action on the wishes of an apparent minority yet choose to ignore over 1,000 pleas to retain the last true area of countryside in Hindley Green at Belvedere Farm."

The Vickers say greater care should have been taken to prevent site vandalism which they claim has resulted in the water level dropping so low.

A spokesman for Wigan MBC, responsible for the drainage work, said:

"The Council's actions at The Floods have been caused only by a very clear health and safety issue.

"English Nature were consulted and agreed the ditch beside the public footpath was significantly dangerous and needed cleaning.

"After a visit from Borough Ecologist Sheena Crombie engineers have now taken action to ensure the water level in the pond will not drop further.

"Sheena Crombie confirms that the nesting swans are unperturbed.

"We are very concerned that swans are being shot at, but that is hardly the fault of the Council."

The spokesman said the situation had been complicated by constant vandalism which, in the authority's view, "could not be the work of young children".

"Belvedere Farm is a completely separate issue which will be determined by the planning committee. There is no planning application on file for The Floods area. The land does not belong to the Council."