SUPPORTERS of Ashton Gardens (SOAG) are now appealing to St Annes public for funds to take their campaign to the courts.

The group needs an initial £1,000 to liaise with a legal expert and prevent the Ashton Institute being sold to either Safeways, Newfield-Jones Homes, or any other commercial developers.

This follows a recent public meeting in the town which passed a resolution calling on the council to refuse to sell any of the land for development.

SOAG has since found itself under increasing pressure to respond to the threat of development from three companies, Lidl's, Safeways and Newfield-Jones who all have planning permission for the designated area.

A planning spokesman at Fylde Borough Council revealed: "It is very likely to be discussed and decided upon at the next policy and resources committee meeting on Monday."

The initial money raised is to help engage a legal expert with specialist knowledge to challenge the right of the council to sell the land that was given to the people.

Treasurer Val Andrews said: "We welcome donations large or small. We are asking people to make cheques etc. payable to Supporters of Ashton Gardens and send them to The Hon Treasurer, Mrs Val Andrews, 10 Chatsworth Road, St Annes, FY8 2JN. We need to raise around £1,000 initially."

The first donation came from local resident Fred Moor who said: "Of course the gardens are important as a green lung in the town centre and because they attract visitors. But more than that, English Heritage says they have historic importance and, as with Stonehenge, selling bits of the area off would devalue the whole."