MASSIVE plans to rejuvenate an East Lancashire park are in tatters after a lottery bid for over £1million was rejected by officials.

Members of Friends of Rhyddings Park have been fighting for a decade to bring the venue in Oswaldtwistle back to its former glory.

But they have been left devastated after being told that the lottery bid has been rejected.

Despite the blow, Neil Mooney, chair of the Friends of Rhyddings Park, said that the group would continue to bid for grants to complete the planned work, which includes improvements to pathways and drainage.

It is also hoped to create a new multi-sports pitch.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said that moves would now be taken to see if some funding to be made available from the authority.

The rejection comes as a bitter blow to the group, Members were optimistic after being given a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, as part of the Parks for People scheme.

The grant enabled the group to consult local residents about the improvements they would like to see at the park and to draw up a masterplan for the park’s redevelopment.

Mr Mooney said: “We are all very disappointed but we will keep going. This was a massive project and must be completed because the park is so valuable to the people in this area.

“A lottery funding bid has been resubmitted and we will also try to find smaller grants that together will be put towards the project we are trying to complete.”

Coun Britcliffe added: “It is a bitter blow. We are disappointed. We were encouraged to put in a bid after we were given a £50K grant to bring consultants in.

“The money has been diverted to other places such as Liverpool and Manchester.

“But the park has become neglected because we were waiting for the to get the grant.

“It is a major blow to the Friends of Rhyddings Park and all of the people who have worked hard.”

Rhyddings Park was originally the grounds of a private house belonging to a local mill owning family. It has been a public park since 1909. One of the most popular section of the site is the Pet’s Corner, which includes a variety of birds and animals.