A VICTORY in the Battle of Hastings has been won by Prestwich residents.

Hastings Road Area Residents Association is celebrating after being given a £13,200 grant to improve the streets and alleyways where they live.

The group formed last year after suffering problems with vandals and fly tipping for many years and drew up battle plans to make the area safer, greener and cleaner.

They held an open day to canvass residents' views on how to improve the area and started applying for funding to erect gates across the alleyways and spruce up the streets.

After some setbacks applying for funding, association chairman Mr Bill Webster, who lives in Hastings Road, put pen to paper himself and applied to the Pilsworth Environmental Agency with great results.

He said: "This is great news! We got a couple of knockbacks regarding funding but I sat down for three days trying to sort out the problem and I have just heard the application was successful. Without this money we couldn't have done anything. It would have been stale-mate, otherwise."

The money will be used to gate-off an alleyway at the rear of Hampden Road and in Bailey Street and the association hopes to add colourful flower baskets to gable ends in Bailey Street and Orange Hill Road.

Mr Webster added: "These walls at the end of the terraced houses are usually used for graffiti and the alleyways are used as a dumping ground. Hopefully, by doing up the area we will make it safer for families and residents and reclaim the area for the community."

Mr Webster also thanked Prestwich Area Board for a grant of £3,000 and said he hopes to organise a street party in the community to celebrate.

Carran O'Grady, area co-ordinator for Prestwich who has assisted the association in their battle, said: "This is a testament to community leaders like Bill who can make a heck of a difference. They are the unsung heroes. With people like that behind the scenes, you get fantastic results.

"I hope this is the start of a number of good things for the Hastings Road area.v The funding will enable them to create a community space that will have many benefits for the residents."