OWNERS of the blighted Elms Precinct in Whitefield have been ordered to make the site safe by council officials or else face a hefty bill.

Legal notices have been served on North Western Properties Ltd to board-up and fence off empty shop units after concerns from local residents were brought to the attention of Bury Council.

But the company has responded with a request to knock down more buildings.

Leader of the council, Councillor Derek Boden, confirmed that North Western Properties Ltd had made an application to demolish numbers 292/294 Bury New Road, believed to be empty properties, and stressed that they would have to make sure that secure fencing was erected.

Of the existing partially-derelict site, he said: "Although these works will not do much to improve the actual appearance of the Elms Precinct, it will mean that the remaining shops can trade and be visited in safety." Coun Boden added that if the order, which includes preventing any sort of access by the public, especially children, was not complied with the council would undertake the work themselves and pass on the bill.

He went on: "Local people can be assured that every possible action is being taken to make the site safe as quickly as possible."

He said the Health and Safety Executive had been informed of the situation and local police and council officers would keep the precinct under constant review.

A meeting will be held as soon as possible between the council and North Western Properties to discuss the demolition work.

Arsonists set fire to a derelict shop in the precinct. Firefighters spent 90 minutes at the scene and managed to stop the blaze from spreading to the nearby Kwik Save supermarket.