AN APPEAL to fix a collapsed section of a dry-stone wall has reached a dead end because no one will claim responsibility for repairs and now locals fear that the remains of the wall have become a weapon for vandals.

As previously reported, a 50ft stretch of wall, running along the banks of the River Kent in Burneside, collapsed 12 weeks ago, strewing debris over the road.

Fearing that the gap in the wall was "a danger" for children and motorists, local people appealed to Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency, to solve the problem.

But neither CCC nor the Environment Agency said they were able to help claiming the wall was the other's respons- ibility.

Now it appears that vandals have used the debris in the road to smash though a pane of glass in a nearby bus shelter close to the wall, at the bottom Steeles Row. The rest of the special toughened glass in the bus shelter was shattered.

Neighbour John Rogers said that he thought the temptation of the stones next to the bus stop had proved to be too much for the vandals.

He said: "Had the wall been repaired when it should have been months ago this vandalism to the bus stop may not have happened. The debris used lying on the road would not have been there."

Janice Wilkinson, Chairwoman of Burneside Parish Council said: "It is really appalling. It is not good enough and a child could easily killed there running into the river."

She said she was unable to comment on whether the bus stop had definitely been damaged by the stones from the wall but said that the parish council would be discussing repairs at its next meeting.

Both the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council are maintaining their view that the wall was not their responsibility.

But Nick Raymond CCC's area engineer for South Lakeland said that the council would be instructing CAPITA to clear up any debris lying in the road and would be improving fencing.

He said: "The wall is a long standing issue for us and if there is any debris lying in the road than it is our responsibility.

"The Highways Authority has looked at the wall in an attempt to make it safe and we have instructed CAPITA to provide some wattle fencing which will be a bit more useful than bollards and tape. How-ever the issue still remains that as the Highway Authority we are not responsible for the wall."