LOCKS on allotment gates protecting a site from fly-tipping have been ‘sabotaged’ after they were filled with ‘super glue’.

Hyndburn Council announced in November it would spend £8,250 on five new gates at Heys Allotment at Oswaldtwistle.

But now the keyholes for the gates, which were only put up this month, have been filled with the glue, preventing people from using them.

Allotment holder Richard Hooper said: “It’s annoying. The idea behind the gates was that it would stop fly-tipping, which is a big problem and also stop people stealing equipment.

“Most of the allotment users wanted these gates and now somebody has just came and sabotaged it.

“Council tax has paid for these gates, it’s an attack on public money.

Five vehicle barriers were installed and kept locked at all times, with only allotment tenants loaned keys to access the site.

The site has suffered repeated instances of vandalism over the years and the council cleared up 34 incidents of fly-tipping at the site last year.

Buildings at the site were subject to an arson attempt in August 2015.

Cllr Stuart Eaves, who represents the St Andrews ward where the site is located, said: “I just cannot believe it, it’s beggars belief why they have done this.

“It’s just annoying because we’ve had a problem with fly-tipping and tried to do something about it and now this has happened. It’s just vandalism.”

Cllr Glen Harrison, who was also involved with the project, said: “I was most unimpressed when I found out about this.

“I have no idea at all why people would inject super glue into keyholes

“I’ve had allotment users come to me being absolutely livid, they’ve finally got these gates up and now this has happened.”

The council is to now repair the locks.