RESIDENTS of a small Bury street say plans to let bedsits in an end-terraced house may spell curtains for their community.

Twenty protesters gathered outside the house in Elm Street on Monday morning to demonstrate the strength of feeling against the scheme.

Householders fear the flats will be let to former convicts or drug addicts, posing a threat the road's "family atmosphere".

Residents say rooms have been converted into four separate flats with their own wash basins without any planning permission.

Householder Pamela Pearson said: "We are worried about the type of people that will end up living there. Most of the people living in bedsits around here are drug addicts or have been in prison.

"This is a family street with lots of little children. It's a very bad idea and parking is very bad here already."

Her neighbour, Margaret Woods, said residents' questions to builders working at the site had been ignored. She said: "They are being so secretive and will not tell us who is going to move in here. If there is nothing to hide, then why will no-one speak to us?"

A petition of 27 signatures against the revamp has been gathered to present to councillors. Planners were alerted after residents contacted planning control committee member Councillor Yvonne Creswell.

Coun Creswell said: "I have an awful lot of sympathy with these residents. Far too often, people are allowed to do what they want with properties before obtaining planning permission.

"It is about time that people who put their plans into action before gaining permission were made accountable."

Planning officers said yesterday they would need to identify whether any planning regulations had been broken by the owners, whose identity they had not established.