IN the early 1960s fields, allotments and pens in the Fulledge area of Burnley were replaced by housing developments. Smart, semi-detached houses with gardens, shops and maisonette flats came to be known as the Brunshaw estate.

The area has its own unique character and problems, highlighted by a series of arrests for drugs and firearms offences recently.

Danny Brierley spoke to the people who work, rest and play in Brunshaw...

TALK to people who live on the Brunshaw estate and the same themes come up time and time again: crime, juvenile nuisance, drug dealing, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

In the last week, police have raided homes and recovered "substantial" amounts of heroin, cannabis and guns.

It is no coincidence that Lancashire's first Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were issued last year against estate residents.

The orders were issued as a way of restoring order and reassuring the law-abiding majority on the estate that something was being done to deal with the worst offenders.

During a community profiling exercise carried out by members of the Burnley Alliance, Brunshaw residents raised concerns over levels of crime, drugs, vandalism, anti-social behaviour, underage drinking and muggings -- all felt to be significant local problems.

The report was part of a town-wide profiling by the Alliance, a group which aims to create a bough-wide network made up of representatives of all community groups which contribute to the renewal of the town.

It said: "There appears to be a high fear of crime levels in the area, with residents in various age groups saying that they feel unsafe going out at night, even to their local shop.

"Many residents in the Brunshaw and Fulledge neighbourhoods see poor parenting as a cause of many of the problems"

Unemployment in Brunshaw stands at 3.9 per cent, compared to three per cent across Burnley.

In January 2000 Allan Glover, 69, a retired builder, was found dead in the street outside his home in Brunshaw Avenue trying to take a photograph of young tormentors. A police investigation was launched and a post mortem examination revealed that Mr Glover died from natural causes caused by a heart condition.

The incident proved a catalyst as police and residents came together to tackle the problem.

Although an increased police presence and a new residents' group has gone some way to restoring a sense of order, many who live on the estate are still living in fear of an unruly minority.

At a pensioners' dinner club in Belmont Community Centre, people said the estate was still blighted by crime.

The centre in Belmont Grove is now a hive of community activity. Opened as the Fulledge Community on March 31, 1974, its doors are open seven days a week. Playgroups, bingo, quizzes, lunches for pensioners and keep fit classes are some of the activities that help to keep a fading community spirit alive.

At the luncheon club, pensioners spoke of the problems, past and present, they have had to endure on the estate.

Like many estates in Burnley, East Lancashire, and the rest of the country, the problems are familiar ones.

Many of the pensioners did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals. One woman spoke of her experiences: "You name it, the people on this estate have done it. Vandalism, breaking into cars, stealing cars, thieving, drug dealing it's all happened up here," she said.

Most of the elderly who use the community centre confirm that in the past year the problem has lessened slightly, but they all agree more work has to be done.

The 72-year-old added: "They've sorted some problems out, but there are still families who make life miserable for everybody else. There are still drug dealers up here as well. We used to look out of our window and watch cars arriving and we would say to one another, 'look they're here for their next batch'."

However, a new residents' group is helping to bridge the gap between young and old. Brunshaw Action Group was formed in September 2000 after a meeting with residents and police. The group has gone some way to restoring a sense of order on the estate.

By working closely with young and old alike, the group aims to confront differences and rebuild community pride. Residents involved in the Brunshaw Action Group are proud of what they have achieved, but are not resting on their laurels.

Chairman Dianne Duckworth said: "We were originally set up to reduce juvenile nuisance. A lot of kids were being abusive and elderly people were frightened about coming out after dark.

"The pensioners wouldn't visit the shops on the estate and felt intimidated by a big gang that was hanging around. We formed to cut down on juvenile nuisance and crime and to get the kids off the streets."

Another dedicated member of the group, Michael Bailey said: "I have been overwhelmed by how well it has gone. People do come into the shop to tell us how well have done. The police put forward the idea of the group and we decided to give it a go."

According to senior police officers in Burnley, the group has already reduced crime on the estate.

Superintendent Steve Hartley, who first proposed the idea of setting up the Brunshaw Action Group, said: "After the ASBOs were issued we suggested it would be a good idea to set up an action group.

"We invited the council and local residents to come together and the Brunshaw Action Group was formed.

"We have targeted families and issued ASBOs against them. That is part of our strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"There are always going to be problem families and we have to continue to target them. We also work with housing associations and will push for families to be evicted if they continue to misbehave.

"Brunshaw does suffer a lot less crime than other areas of Burnley, but that is not to say that crime does not happen there and there has been an improvement in the last couple of years." Apart from anti-social behaviour, drug dealing is a problem.

Supt Hartley added: "Drug dealing is a problem in any town in the United Kingdom. We do have it in Brunshaw, but no more than anywhere else. We see less drug dealing in Brunshaw, but we still target dealers there.

"The thing about Brunshaw is its strong community spirit. That is evident there, but also in Burnley as a whole. There are a lot of people who care about this town and want to make it a better place.

"Because of certain events it tends to get bad press but I think that is unwarranted.

"We have a lot of good people in this town and you only have to look at Brunshaw to witness that."

An increased police presence on the Brunshaw estate coupled with a new successful community group has had an impact on crime levels, but as last week's raids show, there is still a long way to go before the law-abiding majority on the Brunshaw estate have their fear of crime completely removed.