ELDERLY residents at a Preston sheltered housing block say they are living in fear after a plague of attacks in the twilight hours.

Pensioners at Meadow House, St Paul's Road, say they are too scared to go out after dark for fear of being harassed by thieves, drug users and prostitutes.

Warden Sandy Bennie claims he found drugs and needles in a communal toilet while he was cleaning up and says he often sees prostitutes touting for business at the front door of the centre.

Now the residents are calling on the city council to install CCTV. They have even clubbed together to raise £115 toward the cost.

Mr Bennie, a live-in warden, explained: "Come a certain time of night, the residents are frightened to go out.

"We're trying to get the council to find the rest of the money since 2001. I would like to see somebody from the council fit the cameras. All the feedback we have had has been negative so far."

Resident Alice Stenhouse, 85, who fell victim to thieves on two consecutive days, says she has never got over it.

"He must've come in through the window," she said. ""I didn't hear anything. But the fear is always there that they'll come back."

And fellow resident, Jenny Bowman, 75, had her purse rifled for cash while she was asleep in bed. She said: "We have to be on the watch all the time because we don't know who is going to try and get in next. We daren't even go out to the bins to put rubbish out once it's dark."

Now they have turned to Neighbourhood Watch for help to try and stop the attacks. But Sandy, who took over the job three years ago, says cameras would make all the difference.

Some of the 28 residents have raised money for the spy-in-the-sky technology, costing more than £530, but are struggling to find the rest of the cash.

Mrs Bowman said: "On a Saturday night I don't sleep properly, I am waiting for someone to come in through that door."

PC Steve Armes, community beat manager for the central area of Preston, confirmed the home had suffered break-ins and said: "They are quite elderly people and one person was actually found in a room. We always try to call in at least once when we are on duty."

Rachel O'Brien, community safety officer for Preston police, said: "The fear of crime is really high with the people in the housing association, and they see this Neighbourhood Watch Scheme as a way to turn this round."

A spokesman for Preston City Council said: "We've been working closely with the police and tenants of Meadow House to improve security and we plan to set up a neighbourhood watch scheme at the centre.

"We're also looking at new ways to make the centre more secure and we've set aside funding to make these improvements."