YOUNG vandals who repeatedly destroy a popular footbridge could cause a serious accident, an ex-councillor claims.

Eric Walker was speaking the morning after boards were removed from the bridge over Tinkers Brook near Stonebridge Lane, Oswaldtwistle, set on fire and thrown into the fast-flowing water.

The former Hyndburn councillor for Huncoat said he can remember at least five times in the last year when the bridge had been vandalised and the council had been forced to replace the wooden slats.

Urging the council to make the bridge vandal-proof he said: "We can't seem to keep this in one piece. This is happening time and time again. What we need is a completely metal bridge here.

"The council replaced the wooden hand rails with metal ones about a year ago, but know the kids rip up the wooden boards, burn them and throw them in the brook."

And Mr Walker, of Kingfisher Court, believes the damaged bridge is an accident waiting to happen.

He said: "When the boards are up it's fairly easy for a younger, able-bodied person to negotiate, but it is difficult for pensioners to get across.

"Young mothers with prams have to cross it. If they've got a young tot it becomes dangerous if the tot runs ahead and falls down into the brook.

"And if a person whose had a few beverages is coming home from the pub this way they could come a cropper as there's no street lights." His comments were backed by many of people using the bridge.

Barbara Tomlinson, of Victoria Street, who was walking her dog, said: "What we need is an iron bridge. Whenever there is a holiday or good weather this happens. On a weekend there kids down here drinking cider and beer and then throwing cans into the brook. They're all schoolchildren, I don't know where they get their booze from."

And fellow Kingfisher Court resident Tom Lee added : "It's ridiculous, the money it must be costing the council to replace the wood every time."

Peter Clegg, Hyndburn Borough Council's works manager, said: "The bridge will close temporarily over the Easter period and we will assess the situation next week in relation to the cost of repairing it and a decision will be made about its future."