RESIDENTS of a Burnley estate claim their lives are being made hell because of the crime and nuisance taking place in a derelict row of flats and shops near their homes.

And if these run-down properties that no-one wants are the cause of so much trouble, it is hard disagree with the residents' solution -- they want them knocked down.

Indeed, there can be little dispute that these empty premises are creating much misery for people living at Parklands in Burnley's Rosehill area. Police confirm that they have been called there numerous times to deal with allegations of nuisance, disorder and criminal activity.

But what vexes the residents is that no matter how well and often the police respond, the trouble still goes on -- and, in their view, will do so as long as these unwanted shops and flats are there.

There can be no dissatisfaction with the role of the police in this problem -- for several people are currently on remand over alleged offences in and around these premises and the force pledges to continue to respond to residents' complaints and to support them in any way they can.

Yet reassuring as this may be, it amounts only to a containment of the problem, not the removal of it.

But what adds anger to the residents' misery is that this situation has been allowed to go on for so long. They and their local councillor maintain that they have been pressing the council for 18 months to put a compulsory purchase order on the flats and shops and demolish them.

Yet it is disclosed that it could take longer still for that to happen -- as the compulsory purchase order procedure can take up to two years. Small comfort for the residents and no respite for the hard-pressed police. But with this trouble-spot being a manifest nuisance for so long, should not the town hall be looking for fast-track ways of ending the misery?