WILDLIFE experts have warned that dozens of important species could be driven out of Westhoughton if mistakes are repeated over the latest plans to develop the town.

Proposals to build on the site of a demolished factory on Leigh Road, Daisy Hill, have met with opposition from ecologists who say plans for 76 homes could scupper years of work undertaken to bring wildlife back to the area.

A three-year project to breathe life back in to neglected Hall Lee Bank Park, which borders the site, has seen wildlife including deer, sparrow hawks and woodpeckers returning to the beauty spot.

But campaigners fear the homes scheme - part of proposals which could see 700 new homes approved for the town in the next month - could damage the fragile ecology and force animals out of their new habitat.

It would be a second blow to the area after permission was given on appeal to build a 60-home estate on Park Road, at the northern side of the park, last year.

The site, where the former Bellhouse Hartwell factory stood until last year, borders the southern tip of the park and acts as a corridor for animal and birds migrating from the southern end of Daisy Hill.

Ben Hargreaves, local nature reserves officer for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: "This site is an extension of the nature reserve and the water course which runs through the lodge and into larger water systems is very important.

"Mistakes were made at the Fish Fold Farm development at the cost of important wildlife habitats. It is difficult to estimate the amount of harm it caused but we want to be certain that the same mistakes aren't repeated this time."

Hundreds of signatures have already been collected on a petition protesting against the plans by local residents determined to force developers to scale down the plans.