MP GREG POPE is backing residents opposed to the construction of an eight foot high fence at Moorhead High School.

People living along Talbot Road are against the prison camp-style spiked fence at Moorhead High School, which they say is too high, and will lower the value of their homes.

Protester Jan Pilkington said: "It's going to be right in front of our houses. It'll look like Colditz."

Mr Pope, who visited the site prior to the General Election, told the Citizen: "I agree with the residents on this issue, there is no need for the fence to be so high.

"Lancashire County Council has said that eight feet is the standard height for these fences, but I am behind the residents on this one and I am more than willing to take the matter up for them."

The fence, which would be just nine yards away from the protesters' houses, has been given the go-ahead by Lancashire County Council's development services sub committee. It will enclose the school's playing fields in an attempt to make it safer after a series of incidents at the school.

Parents of some children kept them at home after police were called in by staff over fears of racial disharmony a couple of months ago.

And last year a machete-wielding teenager wandered into the school and threatened staff and pupils. There have numerous burglaries and break-ins and even an arson attack.

Previous news story

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