ANGRY residents of an Accrington street today hit out at a telecommunications company after an unsightly telegraph pole was erected on a communal lawn used by children for playing on.

People living in Shelley Gardens were annoyed to find workmen erecting the pole in the centre of their cul-de-sac, with the lines spanning out to the houses around it.

One irate resident, Mrs Julia Mullen, said: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's a ridiculous place to put a telegraph pole.

"We all take care of that lawn, making sure it's neat and tidy, then BT come along and do this. The pride of our street has been desecrated."

Another resident, Susan Howard, said: "There has been no consulting by BT at all. Some people got letters, but none were told anything about a new pole."

But BT spokeswoman Emma Tennant, said: "We're entitled to put telegraph poles wherever we need to in order to provide our service. "We are under no obligation to consult with residents as long as we follow the guidelines issued to us.

"However, we do put notices on the poles telling people what to do and who to contact if they are unhappy."