CONCERNED council chiefs are calling on parents to help them stamp out vandalism at a town centre lodge where a schoolboy sank to his waist in mud.

Little Adam Ashworth, of Bullough Close, Accrington, became stranded after taking a short cut across Platts Lodge on his way home from school nearly a fortnight ago.

Luckily, the seven-year-old was spotted by nearby workers who hauled him to safety from the lodge, which is opposite the Globe Centre, in Ormerod Street.

Now town hall bosses are set to deliver leaflets to local residents warning them to keep children away from the lodge.

Local angler Alan Balderstone, secretary of Accrington and District Fishing Club, branded the site "a tragedy waiting to happen" at a recent town meeting, claiming vandals had wrecked security.

Mr Balderstone, who lives in Townley Avenue, said: "A child nearly drowned in there and it's all because vandals are constantly cutting holes in the fence.

"It's a danger and a tragedy waiting to happen. Vandals are cutting through the fence as fast as we can repair it.

"They have been breaking down the concrete fencing and throwing it into the water and have forced us to stop fishing there." The site is jointly owned by Hyndburn Council and Stuart Nevison, a director of Globe Enterprises, who granted a permit to the fishing club.

Director of regeneration Nigel Rix said: "There has been quite a serious vandalism problem at the lodge and we are taking steps to sort it out.

"We are working with Mr Nevison, the police and members of the fishing club to produce a leaflet for residents in the Woodnook area.

"It will warn parents about the dangers of the lodge and ask them to tell children to stay well away from the site.

"We have in the past put up 'keep out' signs, but they are torn down almost as soon as they appear.

"We're also looking to put better fencing up and we're in discussions with the Environment Agency to turn the lodge into a wildlife area the public can use safely."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.