Residents are furious that bollards at speed chicanes in Woodplumpton village have been knocked down again – for the 13th time.

Some say replacing them is a waste of money and have called for them to be removed.

And at a meeting of Preston Council's rural area forum, residents heard suggestions that the collisions with the bollards could be deliberate.

Coun Anthony Gornall, a member of the committee, said: "There was a suggestion, and it was only a suggestion, that a person was responsible for this.

"Since that date a person has been spoken to and there has been very little damage to them since then.

"It was never divulged to me who it was."

Coun Gornall said another had been knocked down last week, but that did appear to be accidental.

Lancashire County Council today said officers would now be looking at replacing the bollards with 'rebound bollards' in light of the number of reported collisions.

Rebound bollards are devices which are built so that they return to their original position if they are hit.

Woodplumpton resident, John Troughton, 61, noticed the most recent damage when he went to walk his dog on Saturday morning.

He said: "That makes the 13th one knocked down since they were installed.

"The council talks about cutting costs and it's cost thousands to maintain them.

"They're causing a lot of incidents and, really, they're not doing their job.

"It seems to be having the opposite effect really."

He added that youngsters were also misusing the speed humps as skateboarding ramps in the evenings during the school holidays.

Coun Gornall added: "There is a very definite split in the village (about the bollards).

"Some campaigned vigorously for them, most were indifferent. Everyone has been very concerned about speeding through the village.

"In my opinion and a lot of other people's opinion, the county council used a sledgehammer to crack a nut. There is still speeding in the village."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We will be looking at installing a different type of bollard called a rebound bollard.

"They are made in such a way that they will go back to their original position if they are hit. With all safety engineering schemes we keep them under a watchful eye to make sure they are doing what they should be."