YOUNGSTERS were so delighted to have a new shelter built for them at a problem park that they insisted local pensioners got one as well.

It was a turn-around from the grim situation at Mercer Park, Clayton-le-Moors, four years ago, when police officers were constantly being called out to deal with complaints from locals who accused teenagers who met in the park of noise, vandalism and intimidation of passers-by.

One of the groups to suffer from the problems were the members of Mercer Park Bowling Club, many of them elderly, who lost their shelter to vandals five years ago.

Lancashire County Council youth and community worker Bea Foster, helped form the Friends of Mercer Park group with the police and local residents to improve the situation.

She said: "Things have improved radically over the last few years, with different projects to get our youngsters to feel more positive about themselves.

"This year, when I met with the youngsters at the park, they told me they wanted to have somewhere to get together, so we hit upon the idea of a shelter.

"And when we told them the bowlers at Mercer Park Bowling Club also needed a shelter, they agreed it was a case of all or nothing."

"So we were delighted Hyndburn Council's local area council awarded us £8,000 to buy two shelters."

Bowling club member Yvonne Wilson, of Moor Street, said: "I've noticed a difference since the Friends got going. The park used to be a no-go area, but now it's not.

"We picked the shelter from a catalogue and we hope to have it delivered at the same time as the other shelter.

Inspector Stephen Lee, of Great Harwood police, agreed the situation had improved. He said: "I can't give exact figures, because we have changed the way we record crime statistics, but most people's perception is they are down. Friends of Mercer Park is a great success."

Burnley-based environment charity Groundwork, have been hard at work building the youngsters' graffiti and damage-proof shelter in sections, which the teenagers have been bolting together piece by piece at a spot close to the skating pipe built three years ago as part of the Friends' first project.

The aluminium shelter was designed by youngsters themselves and they will also be decorating it after its completion, pencilled in to coincide with the Lark in the Park concert on September 1.