A NATIONWIDE charity which safeguards local outdoor spaces for sport, play and recreation has recognised two sites in East Lancashire for protection.

West Craven's Sough Park, between Kelbrook and Earby, will be the first park in Pendle to be awarded two statuses.

The first is what’s known as a Centenary Field and one area of the park will be designated a Carnegie Field.

Pendle’s mayor, Cllr David Whalley and Mayoress Barbara Whalley unveiled the new Fields in Trust plaques at the park on Friday.

Cllr Mohammed Arshad, who leads on Parks for Pendle said,” It’s fitting that the grand memorial to the fallen of both world wars has been recognised.

“This memorial area will be protected to honour the memory of people from this area who lost their lives in both world wars."

Holme Playing Field, also at Sough Park, has been found to be one of 900 ‘lost’ Carnegie Fields in the UK, thanks to the research of Bob Abel of Earby Local Historical Society.

Mr Abel said: “The fields were protected as public green spaces by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s charitable trust 90 years ago.

“Their aim was to save these areas from future development and the Fields in Trust offers that protection."

Jamie Leeson from Fields in Trust said. “Green spaces like those at Sough Park are vital to building happy and healthy communities.”