AN angry father is demanding that Bury Council tear down "pointless" fencing after his eight-year-old son injured his eye on it.

Mr Shaun McKay (34), of Milltown Close, Radcliffe, said: "My son Callum was playing ball with his friends when he tripped over a broken paving stone and smashed his eye against the metal bracket on the fencing."

He claims the foot-high fencing is pointless, serves no purpose whatsoever and he cannot understand why it was erected in the first place.

"I've been on to the council and they could not give me a straight answer or justify why the fence is there. All they suggested was that I try to organise a petition!".

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "The fencing in question has been in place for several years and was erected as part of an overall improvement scheme. It is designed to prevent damage to the grassed areas by pedestrians and cyclists and, until now, we have had no complaints about it."

He added: "From the information received the man's son appears to have tripped over a kerb and then fallen onto the fence. This would appear to have been very much accidental and an isolated incident. However, if there is a more widespread problem or general dissatisfaction we will consider the matter further."