PARENTS of a Leigh toddler who died in the canal were fuming when council workers erected a six foot high fence outside their neighbour's house.

Sandra Openshaw and her boy friend Paul O'Neill were left stunned by the decision to leave exposed the rear of their home, which backs onto the canal at South Avenue, Butts Bridge - only weeks after their four years-old son, John, died.

But after a call from The Journal, Wigan Council promised that a fence would be replaced behind their home.

A shocked Sandra, who has to look after their three other children - Ina, 8, David, 6, and Antony, 22 months - said: "I couldn't believe it when these workers turned up and started putting up fencing at the back of my next door neighbour's house and outside other neighbours' homes yet left us out.

"After little John's death only a few weeks ago, it seems like a slap in the face to us for some reason.

"On top of this, a gate we put up at the back ourselves has been broken by vandals, and we are frightened that another tragedy could happen. I just don't understand how the council could let this happen."

Despite desperate attempts to save him, John died in Hope Hospital last month. He fell into the canal after climbing over a garden gate.

A council spokesman said: "We have looked into this complaint and find that the little boy who fell into the canal first went into next door's garden and then over their outer fence, so it was decided to do the next door fence first.

"We have now had a look at the outside of Ms Openshaw's property and found that since a hedge has deteriorated and the gate has been damaged we will be putting up a fence as soon as possible."

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