RESIDENTS who have been fighting to have a block of run-down flats and shops in Burnley bulldozed have been told their long battle could soon be over.

Burnley Council leader Coun Stuart Caddy reassured people living in Calderbrook Avenue, off Manchester Road, that ridding them of the buildings, which have been a magnet for anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing, because of their poor condition, was a top priority.

The council is attempting to compulsorily purchase the buildings, which were also damaged by fire last year, so that they can be knocked down, putting to an end years of misery for local residents.

Coun Caddy pledged that the council would continue to push for the compulsory purchase order (CPO) at a meeting of the council's Executive Committee after Calderbrook Avenue resident, Katherine Hanlon, pleaded again with members to take action.

Mrs Hanlon said: "It is time to give us some justice and get something done."

Coun Caddy said the council has had extreme difficulties with the owners of the properties, but progress was now being made.

He said: "We have all been up to look at these buildings and we appreciate the extreme difficulties that residents have been facing.

"It is one of our top priorities to get a CPO and demolish them a soon as possible.

"It is a disgrace, an eyesore and it is totally unacceptable. We want to do everything in our powers to make sure that these buildings are removed and we will keep pushing for this to happen."

Coun Peter Kenyon added: "If it were a matter of justice those flats wouldn't be there. The fact is that there are legally defined circumstances in which we can use CPO powers.

"Our case has got to be water tight to ensure that we exercised those powers legally."