CAMPAIGNING grandmas have seen red after being left out of the switch-on of a new pelican crossing they helped win for Oswaldtwistle.

Only ward councillor Maurice Cowell and Oswaldtwistle county councillor Dorothy Westell were at the Union Road switch-on.

"It stinks. We are absolutely hopping mad," said Mrs Rita Pilkington, 58, of Worsley Court.

Hyndburn Borough Council and Lancashire County Council agreed to split the bill to upgrade the existing zebra after Mrs Pilkington hit the campaign trail along with residents Irene Sisson , 57, and Olive Laraway, 71.

Mrs Pilkington said: "They did not even have the manners or the decency to let us know it was being switched on let alone invite us to come on the photograph.

"If we are not good enough to join them on a photograph I wouldn't even join them in a bus queue," she added.

The three ladies went round more than 900 houses collecting a 777-signature petition, organised a public meeting and two stop-the-traffic protests in their safety battle. Only a few months ago they each received a letter from the mayor expressing the council's appreciation of their personal efforts. The ladies had planned to crack a bottle of bubbly but instead christened the crossing with a bottle of tap water and liver salts.

Coun Cowell said he only received a message from County Hall at the last minute that the lights were going on.

He added: "The victory does belong to people power, particularly the three ladies, and I don't want to take any limelight off anybody.

"We fought our corner on their behalf in committee at Hyndburn and at county," said Coun Cowell.

A county council spokesperson said: "This was not an official opening and we apologise for any misunderstanding that may have arisen.

"The county council acknowledges the role that local campaigners played and how instrumental Hyndburn Council were in the scheme."

Several people were informed as a courtesy that the pelican crossing was being switched on, he added.

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