RESIDENTS claim they have waited years for a housing company to fix defects on their estate.

People began complaining about Ribblesdale View Estate, Great Harwood, soon after moving in, a meeting of the town's area council was told.

Manchester-based Westbury Homes, which finished building the 96 homes worth up to £300,000 over two years ago, today pledged to continue working to resolve the complaints.

The meeting was told that the estate, including Mercer Drive, Hesketh Court, Martholme Close, Louie Pollard Crescent and Lomax Close, had 10 broken street lamps, incorrect road markings, unfinished kerbs, blocked drains and dead trees.

Furious homeowners turned to Hyndburn Council for help but were told that because developers had yet to apply for adoption -- which would mean the council is responsible for maintaining roads, trees, street lighting and grass verges -- it was powerless to help.

At the area council meeting, held at Bank Mill House, Ribblesdale Residents' Association chairman Peter Tiernan said residents were left with no way of fixing the problems dogging the street and were considering taking Westbury Homes to court.

He said that many residents were afraid to walk along one section of road left in pitch darkness because of the broken street lights in Mercer Drive.

"What I'm concerned about is the fact they don't seem to care. Once they finished building that was that. I'm considering taking them to court."

Council officer Robert Ruston said it was up to Westbury Homes to apply for the council to adopt the estate and the council street lighting team would fix the broken street lamps.

The residents' association is holding a public meeting on November 9 at the Park Hotel in Harwood Lane from 7.30pm.

A Westbury Homes spokesman said it was not aware of any maintenance issues on the estate.

He added: "Westbury Homes places the utmost importance on meeting the needs of its residents and, until the adoption process which is underway is complete, is committed to the maintenance of Ribblesdale View to the highest standard."

Residents can call 0161 747 6656 with problems on the estate.