WORRIED residents are piling on the pressure against the siting of two liquid gas tanks close to their homes.

Householders in Holland Court are anxious that the siting of cylinders at St Anne's House, North Street, will pose a potential hazard and become an eyesore.

The application, from Egerton firm Beer Gas Direct, would see the tanks installed around 30 metres from the homes of residents in Holland Court.

The cylinders would be more than 26ft high and 7ft wide, with one containing liquid hydrogen and the other liquid nitrogen.

But residents fear that any fire could cause the tanks to explode, and are nervous about the health effects of any leaks from the container.

Holland Court resident Lynda Baimbridge (45) said: "We are going to have these monstrosities outside our homes along with the threat that one of them will leak or explode.

"There are plenty of industrial areas away from houses where these could go. All it would take is a fire underneath one of them. I won't feel very safe at all.

"We know they are non-toxic, but there is a danger of asphyxiation because they are so large and will be so close and we are worried about other side effects.

"We need to know what safety provisions there are for these tanks being filled and maintained."

Householders have gathered 200 signatures in a petition against the tanks, and have contacted Bury South MP Ivan Lewis and ward councillors.

Planners at Bury Council are in contact with both the Health and Safety Executive and Greater Manchester Fire Service, to obtain opinions on potential hazards posed by the structure.

Deepak Kotecha, managing director of Beer Gas Direct, said that the cryogenic tanks would consist of one vessel inside another, protected by two emergency pressure relief devices.

He said: "Risk assessment studies and historic data show that the likelihood of a large release from a static cryogenic facility is minimal.

"It is unlikely that a large release will create a significant off-site risk as all the liquid would be quickly dispersed into the atmosphere. There are no side effects to these gases in a open environment as these tanks will clearly be. This has been proved conclusively."

Mr Kotecha added that the site would be improved with extra security fencing and screening for the tanks.