RESIDENTS have expressed their anger after a fence preventing off-road vehicles from accessing Bickershaw Country Park was damaged by vandals.

The act of vandalism follows a long-term battle in clamping down on vehicles accessing the park via Crankwood Road and Smiths Lane as well as Firs Flash in Leigh.

Off road bikes, 4x4s, vans and motorbikes were regularly spotted on the sites at weekends causing endless noise and leaving paths and roads full of mud and blocking drains.

Police, councillors and local authority enforcement officers worked with Pennington Wharf developer Taylor Wimpey on coming up with ways to tackle the issues.

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And last October a fence was fitted and a CCTV camera was installed, which reduced off road vehicles going onto the park and fly-tipping.

But last weekend several people vandalised the fence, unearthing it to gain access to the park.

Leigh West councillor Dane Anderton said: “We understand the anger residents must feel having to see their country park and fence destroyed so a few people can have fun at our expense.

"We are angry too that the work that has gone in to secure this site, working with residents, police and the local developer Taylor Wimpey, has been disregarded by a few people who just want to damage our country park, which is used responsibly by many local residents in Leigh and beyond.

"It is a total disregard for the law and the residents of Crankwood and Pennington Wharf."

CCTV footage will be examined and repairs to the fence are set to be completed.

The country park is a former mining site and has been landscaped by Lancashire Wildlife Trust in partnership with Wigan Council.

There are many natural habitats and protected species there which off-road vehicles can pose a danger to.

Councillors have praised residents for working in partnership to tackle the issues.

If you have any information contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1,624 of January 19.