PLANS to bar skateboarders from Burnley's town centre bandstand with the erection of a four and a half foot fence are set to be rubber-stamped by councillors tonight.

Last month members of the executive committee gave their seal of approval to the scheme which will cost £6,500 and involve fencing off the whole of the bandstand.

The call for more measures to remove the increasing numbers of skateboarders in that area, close to McDonald's, came amid fears from the council and shopkeepers about the safety of the public.

Members of Burnley Council are also expected to approve the adoption a bye-law to control skateboarding in certain parts of the borough when they meet tonight.

The borough council's head of legal services is currently preparing a report on the possibility of bringing in a by-law which is likely to take several months.

Town centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "This is a step in the right direction and hopefully it is going to start to make the area safe and more secure for shopkeepers. We will have to consider what it will look like but at the end of the day the priority is to ensure the safety of the shoppers and businesses."

Coun Barry Guttridge, of the borough council's executive, said: "I would just like to say to the teenagers that we haven't forgotten about them and we are not trying to spoil their fun.

"But this is first and foremost a health and safety issue in the town centre. We are looking at a number of possible sites for a permanent skate park for the youngsters to use."

Councillors have reassured skaters they will still be able to take part in the sport but in a suitable location, most likely a purpose built skate park in Queen's Park.