An MP has hit out at ‘environmental vandalism’ after two protected fields were flattened without warning.

Anger is raging in the hills above Bury over the green belt land in Ramsbottom - and police have been contacted.

James Frith, MP for Bury North, has written to Peel Holdings, who own the land, demanding an urgent explanation.

He said he’s been swamped with complaints from people who use the land and enquiries with Bury council have revealed no planning applications for the land are currently in the pipeline. Pictures reveal how the land used to look - and looks now.

Mr Frith said bulldozers were suddenly pictured on the fields off Nuttall Lane and Coppice Vale, between Ramsbottom and Summerseat, without residents living in the area knowing anything about it late last month.

He said there has been damage to vegetation and wildlife and a specialist police wildlife officer has vowed to review the circumstances.

Mr Frith said: “Peel own the land, but it is protected green belt and there are no current planning permissions associated with the fields.

“This environmental vandalism, carried out suddenly with no notice to local residents, was rightly met with concern and the devastation left in its wake must be investigated. I have written to Peel demanding an explanation for their actions and future plans for the site.

“I have also urged them to significantly improve communications with local residents should they conduct any further action on any land owned by them in my constituency.”

The entire site, which runs across the River Irwell to the M66 motorway in its entirety, is believed to host nesting birds. Deer have also been spotted nearby.

A local campaign group - Residents Against Inappropriate Development Ramsbottom - has been formed.

Resident Michelle Bajda, 37, a mum-of-one, walks her dog there. She said the site - a haven to wildlife - was about the size of six football pitches and revealed trees had been torn down.

(Image: Manchester Evening News.)

Michelle said: “It’s been scalped. The whole meadow is bare and quiet, bar the odd small tree and some remaining bushes. It’s a stark difference to what we are used to enjoying - a rich meadow full of birds singing and flying from bush to bush, squirrels, voles and mice.

“There would still have been birds nesting there. It’s totally shocked our local community, walkers, dog walkers, children and bird watchers and all that visited the area regularly.

“In my personal opinion, this land was purposely decimated without drawing attention to its beauty in order to make it more attractive to a future developer.

“The future intentions currently are of a second concern as the damage has already been done to this habitat.”

Peel Holdings said they did not wish to make any comment on the matter at this stage.