Residents have won the first round of their battle with Lancashire County Council over fields at Clifford Street, Barnoldswick.

Contractors working for the council have removed steel fencing and replaced it with traditional timber posts and rails.

Coun David Whipp said: “The county council has ripped out the awful, ugly steel fencing which has blocked footpaths used for decades and replaced it with wooden fencing similar to what was there previously. This is a step in the right direction.

“Questions need to be answered about the future use of the land and about how much this abortive attempt to block the paths has cost council tax payers, but at least we’ve won the first battle.”

The county council provoked an outcry when the fencing blocked footpaths, with scores of residents protesting at last week’s meeting of the local county committee.

And the town council is to ask the county council what it intends to do with the land in the future.

A petition protesting at the county council’s actions was due to be presented at this week’s “cabinet in the community” meeting in Barnold-swick.