RESIDENTS of a Rossendale village are to launch a petition to demand greater official recognition of their village.

Lewis Pearson, of Loveclough, called for action to be taken after his voter registration form for last month’s elections said he lived in the nearby village of Crawshawbooth.

Now Limey Valley Residents’ Association (LVRA), which covers Loveclough, Crawshawbooth and Goodshaw, has agreed to take up the cause at its annual summer fete.

The community group will urge visitors to its fete on August 28 to sign a petition calling for the Post Office to officially recognise its existence.

Mr Pearson told an LVRA meeting last week that he had crossed out the word Crawshawbooth on his electoral registration form and returned it to the Electoral Commission with word Loveclough in its place.

David Hempsall, LVRA secretary, said it was an important issue to some villagers.

He said: “We are going to have a petition. It does actually matter to some people. Until the 1950s, this was a proper village, and despite having downsized since then, it still deserves proper recognition.

“There is almost nothing official now that would make you realise you are in the place.”

Loveclough, which has a pub, a social club, a bowling club, a B&B and recreation grounds, was named the seventh most romantic place name in the UK by the AA last year.

Mr Hempsall said it was the Post Office which recognised the existence - or otherwise - of specific locations.

He added: “A lot of lamp posts were repaired a couple of years ago but the signs were never replaced. I think for the people who were born and bred here, it’s a removal of their identity.

“When you see somewhere much smaller, like Dunnockshaw to the north, with road signs, you can understand where people are coming from.”

Alyson Barnes, Labour borough councillor and county councillor for the village, has pledged to take the case up with Rossendale Council officers.