ANGRY residents of a £1million flats conversion project have reached new heights in their campaign to stop a rehabilitation centre being built on their doorstep.

They have attached giant banners saying "We say no" and "No No" to the 200ft tower of the former Holy Trinity Church, Accrington Road, Burnley.

They plan to appeal to councillors directly when Burnley Council's policy committee meets tomorrow to discuss selling the council-owned site between Accrington Road and Westgate to West Pennine, the housing association that wants to build the centre.

The church was converted into a 22-flat complex known as Trinity Towers in a £1million project seven years ago. The project won an award and was held up as a shining example of urban regeneration. It also saved the landmark building from falling into disrepair.

West Pennine was granted planning permission for the rehabilitation centre earlier this month despite local residents' objections. If it goes ahead it will be managed by Inward House, a Lancaster-based group which provides services for former drug addicts.

The centre would include eight flats and be used as a "halfway house" for women who have been through a drug rehabilitation course but are not ready to live totally independent in the community.

Campaigners hope they can persuade councillors not to sell the land, which is opposite the entrance to the former church, and stop the centre going ahead.

Gary Costello, who lives in one of the flats, helped put up the 28ft deep banners.

"We had to risk our lives to get them up there but it's worth it to get the message across," he said. They're staying up there. We managed to fix them to the outside of the tower from inside but there's no stairs up there. We had to use ladders to get up the tower, which is split into three levels. It was a bit hairy and we had to avoid all the bats and pigeons flying around."

The building is owned by flats residents. Gary said they pay for the building to be lit up at night so their message will stand out even in the dark.

"They are dumping this drugs centre on our front doorstep," he said. "This is a £1 million house. How many £1 million homes do we have in Burnley? Putting this in front of the building will spoil it all. It's a listed building.

"We don't want druggies outside our front door. People will have to look at this centre and walk past it every day. It's a medical centre and should be in the grounds of a hospital or well away from everywhere else. We're all really worried about it."

Fellow resident Lesley Pinder said: "They're taking away the only open space round here. Where are the children going to play safely?"

Ward councillor Carole Galbraith, who supports the residents, said: "They have very little green space in that area. They are hemmed in by three busy roads and an industrial estate.

"Trinity Towers is a success story but the council's had no vision for the area as a whole." PICTURE: Flats residents Lesley Pinder and Gary Costello hope to change councillors' minds