A FRESH attempt is set to be made to breathe new life into the nooks and crannies of one of East Lancashire's most intriguing parks.

Supporters of Stubbylee and Moorlands Park are keen to reimagine the rose garden, Fairy Dell, duck pond and sunken garden, which have attracted generations of Bacup folk.

Bike riders could benefit from a new pump track and an historic cobbled lane, to the east of the football pitch, could be reinstated.

Next month, Rossendale Council and the Friends of Stubbylee will host a 'measured mile', in a bid to showcase what could be done with the venue, off New Line.

County and borough councillor Jackie Oakes said that a number of funding pots had been identified, including the proceeds from various planning agreements drawn up for developments locally.

"We are drawing up what we have called our Stubbylee Masterplan, which we estimate will cost around £400,000 to complete," said Cllr Oakes.

"There will be probably be around four separate projects, so we can look at different areas of the park, and it is something we can carry out slowly, over the space of two years."

Several park users have complained about the loss of dozens of smaller trees, especially around the football pitch and children's playground.

But the redevelopment team said the maintenance was necessary, ahead of the open day, with only smaller rhododendrons mostly affected.

The investment should turn around the fortunes of Stubbylee, whose hall was once home to the mill-owning Maden family but has suffered recent setbacks, with Accrington and Rossendale College vacating an engineering campus there in 2014.

Gardeners at Stubbylee Community Greenhouse are already doing their bit, amid hopes that the hall's barn, which the college left, can be reopened as a community cafe.

Cllr Peter Steen, who represents the town's Irwell ward, added: "Anything which can be done to improve the park can only be beneficial for Bacup and the surrounding area."

The open day is set to take place from 11am on February 19, with an invitation being extended to all users from the Bacup and Stacksteads area.