AN ANGRY shopkeeper living on one of Preston's housing estates has slammed police for not protecting residents.

Arthur Sumner, 59, owner of Sumner's Newsagency on Birkdale Drive, on the town's Savick Estate, claims that police are not bothered about trouble on the notorious estate.

Arthur (pictured) was one of almost 50 furious locals who attended a heated residents' meeting on Tuesday night (August 29) -- at which police declined their invitation to attend.

Their absence at the meeting was the last straw for Mr Sumner, whose shop was burgled earlier this month and whose wife was injured as she tried to stop the thief.

Mr Sumner, who is organising a residents' association for the Larches and Savick estates, said: "Residents are unhappy about policing on the estates. We're constantly bombarded by youths causing trouble, sometimes in groups of up to 50 or 60 at a time. "The police reckon crime is down 13 per cent on last year's figures, but it seems to me to have gone up 50 per cent on two years ago.

"Larches and Savick used to be two nice estates. The problems are just getting swept under the carpet."

Arthur also said the council should provide funding for CCTV cameras to be put up in the area.

Councillor for the ward, Joe Fitzgerald, who was left to deal with the residents' anger, said: "Residents turned up in disgust at what's happening on the estate. And how can the police say that crime figures have reduced when local residents are saying that they aren't?"

The police were unavailable for comment.