ANGRY Liverpool Road residents are going ahead with a planned march despite recent sabotage attempts

Members of the Penwortham Action Group (PAG) who are campaigning to have the proposed Penwortham bypass finished after a 30-year delay, awoke over the weekend to find their hand-painted signs which they put up along Liverpool Road, ripped up and defaced.

But the vandalism has not put the group off and the march on September 2 will go ahead.

David Bennett, who has spearheaded the campaign, said: "Most of the signs were just small, but one was around two metres square. We found some of the signs and they had the word 'eco' scrawled on them.

"But we think it can't be environmental groups because all those issues were dealt with years ago when the original proposal was made."

The group are campaigning for a link road to complete the Penwortham bypass, as was proposed in 1972 and is still marked on maps. So far the group have collected 3,000 signatures in support of the scheme.

Debbie Maitland, another of the PAG organisers, explained: "I have a small son, Elliot, who is nearly four years old. I am terrified of what could happen.

"The volume of traffic and the size of some of the trucks streaming past is enormous. Our houses shake and cracks have appeared in our walls."

Mr Bennett said: "We have been told that we may have to wait a further 10-15 years before it can be completed.

"People say that when we bought our houses we knew they were on a main road, but that was 30 years ago. There wasn't as much traffic back then, and also there was a policeman to help children cross the road. Sometimes now there isn't even a lollipop lady!"

The march takes place at 2pm,on September 2, starting at Howick Cross before heading along Liverpool Road.

Protesters are also being welcomed to a meeting on September 4 at St Mary's Church Hall on Cop Lane from 7pm, which is being chaired by David Borrow MP.