The public will be asked to help decide the outcome of a furious row over access rights to Woodheys Park.

Trafford council will post out a questionnaire to 500 residents who live closest to the park, probably in the next couple of weeks.

It follows the protests of a group of Sale residents angry at the decision to spend £18,000 on metal fencing around the Green Flag Park.

The Friends of the Park say the decision was taken after a series of incidents including groups with rifles shooting at birds, gangs drinking in the woods and vandals spraying graffiti on the children's play area.

But now people can only access the park through four pedestrian entrance gates. Dog owners say they have been particularly disrupted, as the park shuts as early as 4.30pm during the winter.

Messenger revealed earlier this month that Trafford invited three representatives from each side to a special behind closed doors meeting at Carrington depot on October 31.

The two sides were given until November 7 to reach a mutual agreement, but failed to do so. Now the council has embarked on a full consultation exercise with residents living around the park.

Bernard Sheridan, head of Trafford's environmental services explained: "A mutual agreement over the newly erected fence along the southern boundary of Woodheys Park was not reached.

"Residents living around the park will be consulted on their views to help reach a decision. A questionnaire is to be sent out by the parks and countryside service over the coming weeks."

In a separate move an interest group calling themselves 'The Protectors of the Path' are campaigning to reinstate access through Woodheys Woods via a footpath they claim has been in use for many generations.

The group has registered a formal claim to have footpaths in Woodheys Park added to the borough's definitive map'.

The Ramblers' Association - along with other societies and interested parties - have been asked by the council to comment on the claim.