A CAMPAIGN has been launched to move a war memorial after fears it may soon fall into a river.

Church workers are set to campaign with local councillors to save the monument dedicated to First and Second World War soldiers in Crawshawbooth.

The statue currently stands outside St John the Evangelist Church, Burnley Road, above an encroaching water channel from the River Irwell.

Growing fears that the land supporting the memorial may soon give way have inspired the campaign calling on Rossendale council to pay the cost of moving the memorial.

Jack Trippier, church treasurer from nearby Loveclough, said: “Due to the wet summers we have been having over the last few years, the river bank has eroded away.

“We have noticed that the memorial has moved and that is a concern. We approached the council to help us because we do not have resources to move the memorial ourselves.”

St John’s, which was built in 1892, purchased the statue for people in the local vicinity.

The church worker is hoping the council will fund a reloaction project of the memorial, which would see it moved to a patch of green land for more exposure and safekeeping.

Rossendale Councillor Dorothy Farrington said she was working closely with church staff.

She said: “It’s a lovely statue and it needs to be kept in good condition.

“The danger of losing it is not too serious yet, but we really need to put things in motion soon before it’s too late.

“Locals have already pledged to help us move it if we get the go-ahead.”

Jack added: “If the statue was moved to an open space, it would mean the memorial would be kept cleaner.

“The overhanging trees also mean that the statue is developing green patches.”