A FORMER chapel bought for just £20,000 has been stripped inside and out in what a councillor describes as "legalised vandalism".

Railings, doors, windows, slates and stone flags have been removed from Bethel Baptist Church on Burnley Road East, Waterfoot.

In their place are a wooden fence, exposed roof felt and partly boarded-up windows.

Councillor Jean Hayler is appalled at the condition the church is in just months after being bought by Isle of Man company Tocino Services.

She is launching an inquiry to find out what can be done to stop other buildings in Rossendale suffering similar problems.

Council permission is not needed to demolish a building of this type, but no application has been made to change the use or redevelop the site.

Residents fear the company may leave the building in its now semi-derelict state.

No-one from the company could be contacted. A spokesman for the Waterfoot traders and residents' association said: "I think this is going to become the Ilex Mill of Waterfoot.

"The building is 130 years old and, if you look at an aerial photograph of Waterfoot, it dominates the town.

"They have taken away everything that could be sold and no-one from the company has been seen here for weeks.

"I think they have abandoned it which is totally unacceptable. The townscape of Waterfoot has been vandalised."

The Rev Christopher Haig, general secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Association of Baptist Churches, said the congregation dwindled and the building had to be sold.

It was on the market for about a year and the £20,000 offer from Tocino was the highest so they had to accept it. He did not know what the company planned to do with the building. Estate agent Grimley's of Waterfoot said the company's boss Mr A Fieldsend was not in this country very often.

No telephone number could be traced for the company or Mr Fieldsend.

Coun Hayler said: "People in Waterfoot are doing their best to make their town a good place and the association is working very hard for the area.

"This building looks terrible and is next door to the Bethel Sunday School which Rossendale Players are making into a theatre.

"We have got to find a way to make sure the company does something with the building and it does not get left to become a derelict eyesore that will be a dangerous haven for children."

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