DARWEN MP Janet Anderson has backed a campaign to stop a children's home opening in Blackburn Road.

Mrs Anderson has written to council regeneration chief Adam Scott expressing concern about the application for a home for four teenagers.

It follows a plea from nearby residents who were so worried about the idea, they set up their own action group to oppose the plans.

Ian Gillibrand, spokesman for the group, has presented a petition containing more than 100 signatures and is now waiting for the application, submitted by Darwen-based W&S Building and Maintenance Services, to come before the planning committee.

He is also following the outcome of a similar application for a private children's home in Whitehall Terrace which is also opposed by residents and is due before the planning department later this month.

That is also aimed at housing four teenagers who have been in local authority care and some residents are concerned it is an inappropriate location for it.

Mrs Anderson said: "The Blackburn Road application is similar to the one at Whitehall in that they are both for four teenagers and would be set up in terrace houses.

"When I met this group of protesters I told them I didn't have any influence over the planning decisions but I have objected personally to it and have written to Adam Scott.

"There are huge problems with traffic and access around there and I just hope that the planning committee will take these issues into consideration. It is a totally unsuitable site. I've been told these teenagers will come from local authority care but not necessarily from Blackburn and Darwen.

"There have been a number of very similar applications in quick succession from private companies and this greatly concerns me because, although we understand we need to provide for these people, we don't want a plethora of terrace houses in Darwen turned into these homes."

Mr Gillibrand said: "Our action group has now risen to 20 members and we are still trying to find out more information about the people who will use this home.

"The applicants have said they won't be young offenders but we need some sort of guarantee because once it's up and running, it's too late. Plus the parking problems are horrendous now."