A BANDSTAND burned down by yobs nearly two years ago is set to rise from the ashes.

Hyndburn Council is to build a new bandstand in Oak Hill Park to replace the original one which was built in the 1930s and destroyed by vandals in 2004.

The plan has won the backing of the Friends of Oak Hill Park, a recently-formed group dedicated to improving the park.

Friends member Sheila Hodson said: "I am 70 and I can remember the original bandstand from when I was a little girl.

"I am not sure exactly when it was built but it was there for a long time.

"There used to be a band concert there every Sunday and it would be great if we could get that back again.

"The park is there for the people to enjoy, it is not for vandals to go up at night with their bottles of drink."

She added that the Friends of Oak Hill Park were also on the look-out for funding to install CCTV cameras in the park in a bid to cut down on vandalism.

Craig Horobin, Hyndburn Council's parks and open spaces manager, said Burnley-based firm Samuel Taylor Sons and Platt had been appointed to draw up plans for the new bandstand.

He said: "We have been going through the process with our insurance company trying to get things sorted out.

"We are looking at building the new bandstand out of more fire-resistant materials than the old one."

He added that once the plans were given the green light the council would put the work out to tender.

It is hoped the work can be finished by the end of summer.