A VICTORIAN park aviary may have to be torn down if £30,000 cannot be found to restore it, a support group warned today.

The building in Bold Venture Park, Darwen, has is in disrepair and was used to keep chickens in before being left empty a number of years ago.

The Friends of Bold Venture Park, a 50-strong group of volunteers formed in 2001, aim to attract more children to the park through the aviary's re-building.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has pledged to look at the idea of restoring the 19th Century building but local councillor Dave Hollings warned that parks would never be the authority's top priority.

Friends fundraiser Gerald Bartrupe said: "We would really like to see the aviary restored because it used to be so beautiful and in Victorian times it was used partly as a tea room.

"Now it's not in a very safe condition and vandals have torn part of it down so it would take somewhere between £15,000 and £30,000 to restore.

He said: "The only problem is the money. I think we should get more from the council.

"We want kids to tell us what they would like there. Children don't have anything to do in Darwen and it could be turned into a real attraction for them. It could also stop the anti-social problems we've had with vandalism which are bound to flare up again in the summer."

Gerald intends to publish a book containing 60 photographs of the park, dating back to its beginnings in 1864.

Coun Hollings, of Sunnyhurst ward, said : "I think you could say none of the parks have enough money. I can't remember a time when a government made parks a priority.

"A lot needs doing in the park and it's important to prioritise and start work on what the majority of people want doing and this is what the Friends will do."

Coun Kate Hollern, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for leisure and culture, said: "The council works very closely with all parks supporters groups in the development of parks and open spaces.

"The council is looking to how they can facilitate the restoration of the 19th Century aviary and the de-silting of the main lake.

"The council looks forward to continuing work with the Friends to ensure the nationally important Grade Two listed park has a long-term future."

Coun Hollern added that the Friends may soon be invited to apply for grant assistance from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for environmental work on the park.