ANTI-MOTORWAY protesters decided to take direct action in a bid to prevent the M65 from being built.
In February 1995 environmentalists came from all over the country and took over a row of terraced properties near to Darwen Vale High School that were scheduled for demolition to make way for the new road scheme.
They daubed slogans on the walls of the abandoned homes and headed to the roof to make their point.
Contractors waiting to tear down the properties had to stand down and a court order was sought to force the demonstrators to leave their lofty perch.
When they refused to move, the police and sheriff’s officers had to move in and bring down the anti-motorway activists before demolition work could begin.
A second demonstration was held in Stanworth Woods near Blackburn with some protesters chaining themselves to trees in a bid to stop them being felled for the motorway.
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