A POPULAR park is to be improved and protected from criminals after an action group was set up.

The "Friends of Marsden Park" action group has been formed in Nelson to improve the park with activities such as litter-picks, tree-planting and other improvements proposed for over the summer and beyond.

Pendle Council is also putting together a Heritage Fund lottery bid for cash to pay for a wide range of improvements. These will include a mountain bike trail, better lighting on footpaths, a woodland walk and an educational programme for visiting school children.

Local residents have also been urged to keep a watchful eye on the park following a series of thefts.

Over the years a number of statues of historical value have been stolen and the council and police have urged people to report anything suspicious to the police.

"These thefts are threatening the heritage of our parklands and we need the public's support to help put a stop to it," said Joanne Smith, the council's parks outreach officer.

At the end of May a quantity of stone flags were recovered after a nearby resident spotted some men acting suspiciously and telephoned the police. Three men were arrested and later charged in connection with the incident.

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