A GROUP of elderly residents threatened with the loss of two wooden benches have dug in their heels to win their reprieve.

Tenants in blocks of flats in Fountain Place, Whitefield, were outraged when community housing officer Alan Maguire wrote to them about a proposal to re-site the benches following a number of complaints.

The benches were both presented to the local authority, one by Councillor Gordon Sharkey in 1962 and the second by former councillor Mr B Fink and his wife in 1970.

They are situated where people can sit and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet or enjoy the view but, more recently, have become an after-dark meeting place for teenagers.

Mr Maguire said in the letter: "I very much regret that complaints have been received. It is reported that these benches have now become places where youths congregate. This is causing nuisance and annoyance to a number of local residents." A survey was sent to around 30 flats, off Higher Lane, inviting the residents to vote on whether the benches should stay or be relocated to a park in Whitefield.

One Fountain Place resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I am speechless. The answer should be to remove the youths not the benches. A lot of elderly people love to sit on the seats and watch the world go by.

"I have an 87-year-old neighbour who finds it difficult to walk around her flat, never mind walk to the park."

The woman said that she wrote a stern letter to the housing department and to Ivan Lewis MP voicing her concern.

"Why should we give in to 'yob culture'? A lot of the problems are not even anywhere near those seats," she said.

Mr Maguire said that he had received answers to the survey and two thirds of those who responded were in favour of retaining the seats.

He said: "The balance of opinion was to retain the forms. We can't simply take away the benches because one or two people have requested it. But we acted on complaints about youths congregating around them and causing annoyance to those who live nearby."

He added: "I will also be contacting the police to see if they can step up patrols in that area. The benches can stay but there still remains the problem of youths congregating."

The resident expressed her delight at the decision but posed the question: "Why on earth did they consider moving them in the first place? It is extra policing we need."

Insp David Jones of Prestwich and Whitefield Township said: "We are aware of a problem with youths causing annoyance and we have arrested people.

"It is a hotspot which we do police but it is also about educating the youths to respect the wishes of other people.

"Juvenile nuisance is one of our priorities for the summer months along with street robbery and alcohol-related incidents."