PAVING stones have been stolen from one of a town's most picturesque lanes.

Neighbours in Hollins Lane, Accrington, say the old stones were stolen several weeks ago nothing has been done to replace them which has caused hazards for pedestrians.

The stones have been taken from the footpaths at three points along the street which is in a conservation area.

One residents, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "As a motorist driving up the lane the other day I had to stop to allow an elderly lady to step off the footpath and walk around the missing slabs with her small dog.

"They have been missing for several weeks.

"They're obviously the old type of flags that have been getting stolen from all over the neighbourhood.

"However, these empty spaces in the footpath pose a real danger for pedestrians, especially as there is no footpath on the opposite side of the lane.

"There are about three places where they have been removed."

They added that it had been reported to Lancashire County Council for it to be repaired.

A council spokesman said: "We have received a report about the theft of these flagstones and are sorry for not having responded sooner.

"We are visiting the site to make temporary repairs to make the area safe by filling in the places where the flagstones are missing with asphalt.

"Hollins Lane is a conservation area and we will return in the future to provide replacement flagstones.

"We would ask anyone who may have any information about this theft which may be helpful to the police to contact them."

Nearby Oakhill Park has also been hit by stone thefts in the last year.

Cllr June Harrison, who represents the Barnfield ward insists it is not the first time it has happened.

She said: "I reported some stones being taken three years ago and the council came out to fix it.

"It is going on all over the place. It's as if people see something they can make some money from, they steal it.

"It is disgusting as 20 or 30 years ago you would not have seen anything like this happening and is a sign of the times."

"It is a very narrow path and a couple of years ago when I reported something similar there were lots of leaves on it and you could not see any dips or could fall.

"It needs to be fixed."