EARLY action has been promised to remove spiked railings from a vandalised wall outside a village church.

Young dad Robert Hayes, of Manchester Road, Hapton, said he shuddered to think of the consequences should a young child fall on to the spikes.

The 4ft-high stone wall was knocked down by vandals months ago but nothing had been done to either repair the damage or remove the railings, he said.

Mr Hayes, a nursing assistant at Calderstones Hospital and father of Thomas, two, and Abbie, six months, said: "My own children are too young to be playing out but other children do play in that area.

"Only recently, two small girls were playing on the fallen stones and I had to warn them of the dangers.''

He complained to both Hapton Parish and Burnley Borough councils but nothing had happened.

The village, he said, was plagued by vandalism with youngsters travelling from both Huncoat and Padiham. His five-year-old niece Sarah suffered a head gash and concussion when climbing on a metal safety barrier at the end of the footway to Hapton railway station and which collapsed because of vandalism damage.

Workmen carried out repairs but it was now back in the same broken condition with one of the top bars missing.

The station itself had been vandalised with a new fence kicked down, shelter windows smashed and seats burned, said Mr Hayes.

Parish council vice-chairman Pat Jones admitted that vandalism was a problem in the village.

Various meetings had been held to discuss what action be taken and, she said, police were doing what they could.

She said: "As far as the wall is concerned, we reported the matter to the church because it is their property.

"After the accident with the guard rail, Burnley Council workmen were out within an hour.

"They made temporary repairs and came back later to finish the job. I am sorry to hear they have been damaged again.''

Methodist minister the Rev Armstrong Fumey said: "We have been having problems with vandalism around the church.

"We have plans in the pipeline regarding the wall but because of the concerns we will speed things up.

"I hope something can be done within the next few days.''

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