A £500,000 funding bid is being drawn up to improve Memorial Park in Great Harwood.

The Friends of Memorial Park (FoMP) group have teamed up with Hyndburn Council to apply for the Lottery funding to bring the park facilities up to Green Flag status.

Under the scheme improvements would be carried out around the Cenotaph with improved pathways and the installation of new lights and railings.

The former gardeners huts could also be transformed into a community facility along with better access and drainage.

Ian Wilkinson, chairman of FoMP, said they are at the first stage of the bid process.

He said: “The council are trying to get some lottery funding and putting a bid together for the park of around £500,000. They are working up a stage one bid.

“This would involve work around the cenotaph and transforming the former gardeners’ hut into a community facility, possibly an environmental centre for school children to spend time in there and do nature studies.

"It sounds a lot of money but it will soon add up. We are current playing second place to the lottery bid for Rhyddings Park at the moment as they are at the stage two phase of the funding process but the council have assured us they are working on our bid at the same time.”

FoMP and the council are appealing to residents who attended or knew people who visited the Cenotaph opening ceremony in 1926 to help as part of the funding bid.

Councillor Ken Moss, cabinet member for parks said: “Whilst we are excited about the bid, it’s still in the really early stages as yet.”

Coun Moss said they are still ‘collating information’ and the bid will be submitted in several months’ time.