HISTORIC 200-year-old flagstones leading into the newly opened Riverside Park in Stacksteads have been vandalised.

Members of Stacksteads Riverside Park Group said they were left angry when they discovered the vandalism on one of the main paths leading into the park behind the Rose 'n' Bowl in Newchurch Road.

Chairman of the group Coun Michael McShea said: "Those stones have probably been there for 200 years and are part of our industrial heritage. They are irreplaceable and are getting quite rare in Rossendale.

"We found a pickaxe nearby which may have been used to smash up the slabs."

Coun McShea said he was informing the police about the vandalism but is convinced it must have been carried out by someone who knows the local area.

The 5ft by 4ft slabs form a retaining wall on the path and although it is still passable, Coun McShea said it will have to be repaired to make it safe for people using the park because they could trip on the uneven surface.

Coun McShea said: "There were a group of about 15 volunteers who gave up their Saturday to carry out work on the area in readiness for the opening on Sunday.

"They were cleaning the area, digging, planting and putting the finishing touches to the project ready for local businessman Brian Boys to open it.

"They were annoyed and frustrated when they discovered the vandalism. It was just wanton destruction and it really took the edge off all the work that had been carried out.

"We don't know if we will be able to repair it but we will have to make the path safe because people could trip on the broken flags."

The £14,000 regeneration of the area has seen paths resurfaced, the banks of the River Irwell improved, stone tables and seats introduced and two carved sculptures of a frog and a totem pole by Britannia artist Jimmy Starr.

The completion of the project was celebrated with a barbecue at the site on Sunday.