RESIDENTS of a new housing estate are aiming to beat vandals with community spirit.

They say building a sense of togetherness has lagged behind the expansion of Longsands Lane, Preston, where new house building has been going on for 12 years.

But repeated vandal attacks on their homes, bus stops and zebra crossings made them realise that they had to come together.

They have held informal meetings for the past few months, attracting as many as 35 residents, but felt they had to set up an official group to get more people involved.

So they have formed the Longsands Community Association.

Its first meeting takes place next week and organisers want all the residents to come and take an active role in their community.

They have drawn up a charter, which lays down their main aims: stopping vandalism and providing a better environment.

Publicity officer Tony Jackson said: "There has been a lot of new houses built here in the last 12 years but there's no community at all.

"Vandalism problems started so we decided to get together, but we want to see that develop more.

"We have decided to create a formal community association. We called it community association rather than residents to try and foster the spirit.

"Vandalism had been escalating. A bus stop's glass kept being smashed as well as the balls on zebra crossing. It got people talking and we're trying to capitalise on that and get some community spirit.

"Our main aim is to provide a focal point for residents' complaints and also to improve the area. We want to make a better living environment. If we want something done we will have more say as a group, rather than as individuals."

The first meeting takes place at the Millennium Hall, Longsands Lane, Preston, on November 2 from 6pm.