A RESIDENTS' group in Rawtenstall has accused an environmental improvement body and a rival residents' association of creating an unsafe play area for children.

Members of Burnley Road Action Group (BRAG) said they wanted to alert local parents to what they say are the dangers of allowing the children to play in a wooded area at the top of a slope, in Hobson Street.

Steps have been created up to the wooded area by Groundwork Rossendale, in partnership with a different residents' group, Cribden Neighbourhood Association. Further work is planned for the site.

But the steps lead up a slope from a row of council flats for elderly residents, where BRAG has tried to stop youngsters playing by erecting a new fence.

Judith Lord, chairwoman of BRAG Project Panel, said: "Our idea was to upgrade a recreation area further up Burnley Road, which is used as a football pitch, to encourage children towards that as a play area, rather than the area at the bottom of Hobson Street.

"The area there is wooded and in our opinion it is just not a safe place for children to play. A culvert has also been opened up below one set of steps and all it would take is for one child to trip and fall head first into it. It is the safety of the children that we are concerned about." However, Frances Mahon, secretary of Cribden Neighbourhood Association, said the steps up the slope made it safer for the children, who she said have played there for generations.

She said funding was currently being sought to clear the land at the top of the slope to make a safe place for the whole community to use.

She added: "Children have played round there for many years and will continue to play there in the future. The steps up are much safer for the children than scrambling up the muddy bank.

"The object of future plans is to open up that site and make it a safer, more pleasant place for the whole community and with the help of Groundwork Rossendale we are currently seeking funds to carry out that work."

Mark Bolton, community project officer for Groundwork Rossendale, said: "The culvert was blocked and had to be unblocked because it was causing a flooding problem on Hobson Street, which has now been resolved."