CAMPAIGNERS battling to get an "unsightly" aluminium fence near a historic railway viaduct have reached an impasse with Network Rail bosses who ordered it to be built.

The Friends of Saddleworth group - formed specifically to protest about the fence in Den Lane, Uppermill, almost two years ago - claim they were guaranteed "community money" from the publicly owned company which they say has never materialised.

The protesters say a donation of £5,000 was discussed at a meeting with three officials of Network Rail on Den Lane on February 15, last year.

They also say a pledge to plant trees in an area of Uppermill to make up for the loss of trees felled on the railway embankment before the fence was erected been honoured.

Network Rail have previously said the fence was built to for safety reasons - to prevent youngsters trespassing on the Manchester-Huddersfield railway line.

Additional fencing was installed when stunt bikers were photographed behind the fence where trees had been cleared ahead of the work.

The group also said Network Rail promised to consult local leaders and the community before any more work was done.

Since that pledge, without any consultation, three more fences have been built, it said.

Campaigners also claim they were promised a review of the fence in December by Network Rail to "either swap it for something more in keeping or remove it entirely", but nothing has happened.

A Friends of Saddleworth letter to Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: "You claimed to put in a fence to make and area safer for children.

"However, that was also WRONG, because you made children a playground by chopping down all the trees and they then played BEHIND your fence."

It It also said: "We have asked you to help after your staff wrecked where we live, and you have ignored us. Not once but three times. You have done NOTHING."

A Network Rail spokesman said: “As a publicly funded organisation, we cannot and do not donate money to community groups as ‘compensation’, as is being claimed was promised in this case, for work that we are legally entitled and required to carry out to secure the railway boundary and keep the public safe.

“We appreciate some local people are still unhappy with the safety fencing we had to put up to stop dangerous trespassing onto the railway at Den Lane in Uppermill.

"We have planted ivy to help the fencing blend into the landscape. We are also working with ‘Manchester City of Trees’ to replant trees which needed to be removed for the upcoming Transpennine Route Upgrade.

“However, after Network Rail meetings could not find a satisfactory compromise for campaigners, we have advised them to contact the Office of Rail and Road if they wish to take this further.”