RESIDENTS of a Preston sheltered housing area have formed a tenants association to attract more funding to the area.

The residents of Sunningdale, in Broughton, have united to form the first association of its type in the area following the government's encouragement to set up these types of schemes all over the country.

Now, through the Star-Sunningdale Tenants and Residents' Association, locals hope to benefit from government cash windfalls to improve their 30-bungalow complex.

Acting secretary Ron Entwistle said: "We have launched the association in line with other schemes being developed nationwide.

"Different estates all over the country are registering themselves as tenants' associations as it will make it easier for them to get funding for improvements.

"It has taken around six months of negotiations to get to this point and now we hope to be able to apply for grants to improve the patch. "The area is nice on the face of it but there are a lot of things people don't see, like a need for drop-kerbs to be more wheelchair-friendly.

"It feels like the area has been left behind the times when it comes to modernisations."

The launch of the association was attended by Preston mayor, Councillor Joe Hood, and wife Enid, along with Preston's housing director Peter Deacon.

Mr Deacon said: "We are looking to encourage these associations to spring up in different parts of the town.

"This is the first in a more rural area and the first in a sheltered scheme.

"We are very pleased to see the group launched and my staff have been working with the members to develop the organisation.

"We are confident it will lead to better liaison between council landlords and tenants."