THE FUTURE is green for campaigners who are celebrating after mobile telephone company Orange agreed to restore the landscape surrounding their homes.

The trio from Kelvin Street, Darwen, have fought for 12 weeks to have five wooden electricity poles removed from moorland.

They were also angry about the effect the development had on the land. Mrs Lilian Aspden said: "We are very pleased that we are finally getting our view back.

"The land has been turned into a mud bath and we hope the problem will now get sorted out for the sake of everybody who walks on this section of the moors."

In a letter to Councillor Dave Smith, who campaigned on behalf of the residents, Orange regional construction manager Chris Edge, said: "Norweb are installing an underground service to this site to replace the initial overhead line.

"This work is due for completion imminently and it is confirmed that reinstatement works will be started subsequently.

"I would like to apologise for the disruption that has been caused."

Mr Smith added: "I also hope the contractors reinstate the path to an acceptable standard.

"I would urge mobile telephone companies or contractors working on behalf of other utilities to consult with residents before beginning work in order to avoid problems such as those created in this case."

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