CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the future of a footpath claim it has been used by generations of local people.

A bitter row has broken out between residents and textile firm William Reed over the path between Every Street and Burlington Street, Nelson.

Campaigners claim the path is a public right of way which has been used by local people since the turn of the century. But the firm was given planning permission earlier this year to close what it described as a private path as part of larger works at its Spring Bank Mill site.

Since then residents have been working hard to uncover evidence to back up their claim that the route should be kept open to the public. They took their fight to Pendle Council's Nelson area committee but were told that paths came under the authority of the county council.

Now the campaigners are appealing to anyone who has evidence that the path is a public right of way.

Campaigners are also to be given help by Pendle Council in unearthing documents about the path so they can take their fight to the county council.

Nelson committee chairman Councillor Colin Waite is to meet the firm to try to solve the dispute.

Nelson Labour county councillor Joe French said: "It's an absolute deprivation of liberty of the people in that area. The path is a strategic link for the infirm, for the elderly and for the people who cannot climb the steep hills in the area because this path goes on a level footing to Every Street.

"There are elderly people in the area who used this path to go to school. This path has been in use all these years throughout the lifetime of the residents of that area. We will fight this to the bitter end."

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