A PATCH of waste land could be transformed into a haven of horticultural perfection if a residents' group has its wishes granted.

The Caring Accrington Road Residents want to create allotments and gardens on derelict land in Tennyson Street, Burnley.

Since houses in the street were demolished. the land has been left empty.

Like many spare pieces of land in the town it has not been found an alternative use and has become a nuisance to those who live close to it.

A member of CARR, Coun Liz Monk, said: "Tt is a bit of land that has been left for about 30 or 40 years. It occasionally gets fly tipped.

"We are turning something bad into something good. It is about people pulling together. trying to enhance the area."

If their planning application is successful the allotments will be rented out. Coun Monk said that 12 people had already shown an interest in the project.

CARR has been working in partnership with Groundwork East Lancashire and Growing Places, a body funded through the Single Regeneration Budget.

Growing Places are charged specifically with developing derelict land for residents' use. Its manager Richard Jones has been assisting CARR with their planning application and funding.

He said: "We helped CARR to draw up an environmental plan for the whole area. There are several sites of vacant land and this is really the first project we have tackled.

"If they are given permission for the project we will help sort out funding and find the contractors to carry out the work."

"It may not seem very important for Burnley as a whole, but for the people living in the Accrington Road area it is a big thing. It will make the place they live in greener and more pleasant."