A NEW community association has been formed for residents on a Blackburn estate - even though members of its predecessor are still fighting a decision to dissolve their group.

More than 53 members of the Bank Top community stood for one of 20 positions on the committee of the new Bank Top Community Association at a meeting.

The previous association was dissolved by Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses last year amid allegations of financial and administrative mismanagement, a claim denied by the people involved in the community association.

For organisations such as community associations to receive grants from the council, they must agree for their books to be inspected by officers who have the power to wind the groups up if they find any signs of maladministration.

The members of the original Bank Top Community Association vowed to fight the decision to dissolve their group, and a complaint lodged at the Local Government Ombudsman is still being investigated.

Eddie Duxbury, a member of the previous group, said: "The council are jumping the gun here. We are adamant we have done nothing wrong and will fight it all the way if we have to.

"They should have waited until the ombudsman had made its report."

Adam Scott, director of regeneration, housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The Bank Top Community Association was dissolved by the council in October last year because of suspected financial irregularities.

"This decision was endorsed by the executive board of the council in January.

"There is thus a long-standing need to establish a new association which can represent the residents of Bank Top, and become involved in such projects as the running of the community centre.

"We understand former officers of the association have lodged complaints about the dissolution of the association and that these are being investigated by the local ombudsman. That investigation will take its course.

"In the meantime, there is no reason to disenfranchise the Bank Top residents. This representative body had over 35 nominations for the 20 committee places.