KISSING gates are to be installed to stop ‘foul mouthed’ horse riders, according to councillors.

Residents in Rishton have complained after horses were said to be leaving piles of manure near homes and riders were ‘intimidating and abusive’ when challenged.

Councillor Ken Moss said kissing gates would now be installed to stop horses damaging paving and gardens, at Shawbrook Close and the White Path which runs between Spring Street Playing Fields and Great Harwood.

However riding schools in the area said there was a real shortage of safe places for people to ride.

Coun Moss said: “There have been a few incidents where the riders have been stopped by residents and in some cases gave foul mouthed abuse.

“These are residential areas and it isn’t really the appropriate place for horses. Residents are getting fed up of finding piles of horse manure when dog fouling wouldn’t be tolerated.

“People are having to go out there with shovels and feel there is a general lack of respect. It is just a few riders, not all, but enough to make it a problem.

"There are plenty of proper bridleways which can be used.”

Provision of the kissing gates was arranged by Coun Moss and his colleague Coun Harry Grayson, and are expected to be installed within weeks.

Initial requests from residents for 'No Horses' signs around the village was rejected by Rishton Area Council, which has funded the kissing gates, on the basis that they would be ignored and the cost of £800 could not be justified.

One local riding school, which asked not to be named, said they had not been consulted and the shortage of safe riding paths was ‘chronic’.

Lynn Fielding, owner of Harwood Edge Care Farm, offers riding lessons for people with learning disabilities.

She said: “I don’t see the problem with horse manure as people pay £1 a bag for it.

“There is also a shocking shortage of safe bridle paths.”