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Stones dating back more than 200 years have been stolen from a beauty spot - with repair costs expected to surpass £30,000. The historic stones were lifted from the walls that line the roads near Rivington and Anglezarke reservoirs and play a "vital" role in preventing vehicles from leaving the carriageway during crashes. One councillor has labelled those responsible as "lowlifes" with Lancashire Police investigating.
Cllr Ryan Bamforth added: "I actually don't know what to say, I'm baffled, why have these absolute lowlifes done this? Cllr Ryan Bamforth (Image: Horwich Town Council) "We have volunteers who spend a lot of time out there, some people don't earn £30,000 in a year, so to do that much damage is shocking. Read more: Our very own 'little Lake District' - how did it come about? Read more: Streets sealed off after 'suspicious' item dug up in garden Read more: 5 castles and ruins you can see in and around Bolton "It's an area that is very much close to people here, and used by us." A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "We are currently investigating thefts from several locations of a large number of stones from walls that line the roads at Anglezarke and Rivington.
Rivington Reservoir (Image: Public) "Some of these walls date from before the reservoir was built, meaning they are over 200 years old. "Not only are these walls part of the heritage of the area but the walls play a vital part in the area in keeping the embankments back and preventing vehicles leaving the carriageway in an accident." Both reservoirs, that the wall surrounds, were built by Thomas Hawksley for the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks between 1852 and 1857, supplying water to the Merseyside city.
The area is popular among day-trippers and walkers with Rivington Terraced Gardens and Winter Hill the star attractions of the patch known as "little Lake District". The spokesman for Lancashire Police added: "The damage so far is currently upwards of £30,000. The offenders of this crime will have taken a significant amount of time to move the stones due to the weight and the amount taken.
"If anyone has any information on the theft, please contact PC 620 Gallagher on [email protected].
"We request that people remain vigilant in the area and report any suspicious activity to the Police." United Utilities, who own the land where the theft took place, said: “United Utilities is working closely with Lancashire Police following the theft of some stone from the perimeter walls from our Anglezarke and Rivington reservoirs. "Should anyone have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the police quoting log LC-20250311-0772.
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