A MOTHER told how she feared for her daughter's safety as concrete slabs from the disused Darcy Lever viaduct rained down on her garden.

As reported in the BEN on Thursday, Radcliffe Road is expected to be closed for at least three weeks while emergency repairs are carried out.

Alison Howarth, who lives on Woodside Place, next to the crumbling viaduct, said: "I've had to stop my two-year-old daughter Alica playing in the back garden - I dread to think what could happen.

"If these falling slabs hit anyone, they could easily kill them. I hold my breath every time a child walks under there."

Around six slabs have fallen into Alison's garden in recent months and many others have shattered in the road.

The British Rail Property Board, who are responsible for the viaduct, have been blasted by local residents who say they should have acted sooner to make the structure safe.

Mrs Howarth first reported the danger to the board more than 12 months ago when falling rock smashed the window of a passing taxi.

She said: "The driver had to swerve to avoid the slab, which shattered his windscreen and almost caused him to crash into my house in the process.

"And we're not talking about little rocks falling down. We are talking about big slabs of concrete."

Galvanised netting has now been fitted to the structure and a covered walkway provided for pedestrians, but Alison is still unhappy about the response from the board.

"They should have acted on complaints from the residents when the first stone fell a year ago. If it wasn't for the swift action of Bolton Council, I dread to think what would have happened," she said.

Frank Gradwell, the board's regional sales surveyor, said: "The viaduct was subject to regular inspections as far back as last November and our inspectors had no concerns about its condition then.

"However, following recent events, we have over-ridden that advice, and contractors are starting work immediately to secure the structure."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.