AN EAST Lancashire park which has suffered years of neglect could be restored to its former glory with £1million of lottery cash.

Memorial Park in Padiham is one of Burnley's six heritage' parks and a holder of the prestigious Green Flag award since 2000.

However, many of the park's facilities are in a poor state of repair and council bosses fear the Green Flag status could be lost unless there is significant investment.

As a result council bosses are planning to put together a bid for £1million of lottery cash to revamp the park.

Bosses at Burnley Council are keen to tap into a new funding programme set up by the Heritage Lottery Fund last year - the Parks for People scheme.

A total of £90million is up for grabs over the next four years with grants of between £250,000 to £5million for individual projects.

The lottery cash would be used to bring the park - Padiham's main recreational area - back to its days of grandeur and repair facilities such the toilets, play areas, paths and bandstand.

A community leader has welcomed the plans.

Former Mayor of Padiham Granville Lord said: "I wish everyone well with the bid.

"It would be great to see some improvements to bring the park back to its former glory."

Simon Goff, from the council's Green Spaces team, said: "The park provides an area of significant recreational value for the residents of Padiham and has been a Green Flag award winner since 2000.

"However, it retains this award by a narrow margin because of the poor condition of many of the park's features. It needs further investment."

Council officers feels the park stands a good chance of getting the grant for several reasons, including the presence of a strong friends' group, the link to Thomas Mawson, links to other projects like the refurbishment of the town's leisure centre, and the positive impact the restoration would have on the town.

The council must now prepare a two-stage funding bid for the money following consultation with residents, the town council and the friends of the park.

Memorial Park was designed by Lancashire landscape designer Thomas Mawson, who gained an international reputation in the early 20th Century and designed Rydal Hall near Ambleside and Graythwaite Gardens at Newby Bridge.