LOWTON residents are furious after the unannounced closure of a public access footpath from St Helens Road, Leigh to Pennington Country Park.

Last month a stile adjacent to the Moss Industrial Estate was demolished. Steel fencing was erected across the route and a notice left stating the path had been permanently closed for heath and safety reasons and anyone with questions should contact Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.

Local resident Robert Hesford was angered by the footpath closure: "The footpath has been used for as long as I can remember and is clearly designated as a public access footpath on Ordnance Survey maps," he said.

However, when Mr Hesford contacted Wigan Council, he was told that the path's designation was "not definitive" and that Ordnance Survey must be wrong.

Confused by Wigan's "vague and sheepish" response, Mr Hesford has now contacted local MP Andy Burnham and the Ramblers Association to gather evidence for his case.

Mr Hesford is also collecting signatures for a petition from local residents to show the strength of public feeling against the footpath closure.

Wigan Council's Public Rights of Way officer, Liz Parry, said they were still investigating the issue, gathering official documentation from the planning and legal departments and Moss Industrial Estate.