Landmark cairns restoration plan to deter vandals

The cairns on Winter Hill boast spectacular panoramic views

Two landmark cairns at a popular walking destination are set to be restored to "deter vandalism and make the monument safer", a conservation charity has said.

The Two Lads on Crooked Edge Hill - an outlying summit on Winter Hill between Greater Manchester and Lancashire - have been damaged and rebuilt many times over the years.

A representative for the Woodland Trust, which manages the moorland, said: "We are planning to restore Two Lads securely to deter vandalism and make the monument safer for visitors."

While they were first recorded on maps in 1787, according to the trust they may also have been mentioned in a land deed from Cecily, widow of Roger de Worsley, in 1280.

The Woodland Trust will hold meetings next month about its conservation plans

The second cairn was rebuilt in the 1970s on Winter Hill, which on sunny days offers panoramic views as far away as the Irish Sea to the west and the Peak District to the south-east.

Winter Hill, also known for its huge telecommunications mast, is a popular walking destination.

A third cairn has also appeared recently.

In May, the Woodland Trust will hold a series of community meetings with members of the public to share how they plan to restore and preserve the cairns.