FOOTPATH fighters are claiming victory in their battle to have a right of way through an industrial estate re-instated.

Lowton residents were furious when steel fencing was erected across the well-used path, a short cut from St Helens Road to Pennington Country Park, last month.

A notice erected at the site adjacent to the Moss Industrial estate said it had been permanently closed for health and safety reasons.

Angered by the unannounced closure, Lowton resident Robert Hesford started a petition after contacting Wigan Council and Leigh MP Andy Burnham.

This week he said he was pleased to hear from the council's public rights of way officer, Liz Parry, that she had found a document from 1973 stipulating that there is a public footpath through the estate and that the matter is now under investigation.

He said: "I am delighted, this is a moral victory. I was furious when the fence just appeared. If people don't complain nothing gets done."

A council spokesman said: "The original footpath was closed by Lancashire County Council in the 1970s after a public inquiry but looking through records it appears the inspector intended there to be another footpath.

"We are discussing the situation with George Moss to see how the matter can be resolved."