VANDALS have delayed 'important' repair work at a Darwen beauty spot following a landslide, United Utilities has said.

Overland pipework has been 'deliberately slashed' on several occasions in Sunnyhurst Woods since it was put in place in August following the incident, the region's water supplier has said.

The pipes are being used to control water flows while work is being carried out on the area affected by the landslip.

Bosses at United Utilities have also said damage has also been done to fencing and site signage.

The work, which started last year, to stabilise the area where the landslide occurred is expected to cost up to £3million.

Hayley Kilpatrick, chairman of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods, said: "It is very frustrating that people are doing this, especially when UU has put up fencing around the area for extra security.

"We have been told that staff are having to check on these pipes every few hours.

"It was hard when the landslide because of all the footpath closures that were put in place and we really don't anything delaying that work as it is already going to take a long time.

"I know we have a lot of people asking us when footpaths are going to open again. Blackburn with Darwen Council, United Utilities and the friends are doing everything they can to get the job done and it doesn't help when people stop them from doing that."

United Utilities has not specified how much the vandalism attacks have delayed the work or how much it has cost but the damage has been described as 'expensive'.

The friends group has been informed that the project could take up to 12 months to complete.

The suppler has comfirmed staff will work with the council to re-open some of the paths.

Water supply was temporarily cut off for thousands of residents when the landslip occurred and also affected fish stocks at the Dingle Lodges.

A United Utilities spokesman said: "We appreciate this is a frustrating time for regular users of the woods and would like to thank people for their patience.

"Unfortunately, we have experienced several spates of recent vandalism to our working areas, including deliberate damage to the overland pipe which has been slashed on several occasions as well as deliberate damage to work fencing and site signage.

"As well as being expensive to put right, this vandalism distracts our colleagues from the important job completing repairs and getting paths reopened for all to enjoy.

"We'd ask anyone who spots vandalism to please report them to staff at our site cabin."