CHILDREN as young as four have spent hours gathering names for a petition to let them play in front of their homes.

The petition is in response to a request by a neighbour to have a "no ball games" sign put up on the grassed area in front of The Causeway, Great Harwood.

The local children have played on the council-owned land since they finished school for the summer break. But Brian Presho and wife Kathleen, who lives off The Causeway, complained to Hyndburn Council and requested the sign.

Carmella Barnes, whose children Jordan, four, and Natalie, eight, play on the land, said: "This man has no claim to the land but has taken it on himself to stop children playing there.

"The council has said it can be used for ball games but that hasn't stopped him calling the police several times." Mrs Barnes added: "The children have nowhere else to play safely. They did all the name-gathering for the petition themselves."

But Mr Presho said: "There is no need for children to be playing there. There's an enclosed play area and a full-size football pitch just down the road. "They are causing noise and wrecking the trees the council planted just a few months ago." Sgt Carl Simister, of Great Harwood Police, said: "We moved children on twice at The Causeway last week after a resident complained they were playing near recently planted trees." John Stamp, Hyndburn Council's technical officer, said the council could put up "no ball games" signs but they would only be a deterrent. He said: "We have informed the works department that a sign has been requested."

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