REFUGEES resettled from Whalley to a housing estate after fleeing war-torn Kosovo want to leave because they have been targeted by young hooligans, it was revealed today.

They say the warm welcome offered at Calderstones and then by Burnley when five families arrived last year has been replaced by fear as groups of children aged around 12 stone their Griffin estate houses and hurl abuse.

One of the evacuee homes has been burgled and the three remaining evacuee families on the estate, say their lives have been made a misery.

Today Burnley and Padiham Housing, which owns the former council estate, said it had stepped up manager and security surveillance in the district and had called on police to increase patrols because of the attacks on the Kosovar families.

The organisation condemned the targeting by young hooligans and Burnley council Labour leader Stuart Caddy described it as "appalling" and said the council would do all it could to stamp out the harassment.

News of the attacks came as it was revealed the 17 remaining refugees have applied for extensions to their one-year permits to stay in Britain and may seek asylum in this country if the applications are refused.

Last year the 30 Kosovars came to Burnley after being airlifted to safety and housed initially at the Calderstones reception centre.

The council spent £60,000 adapting council homes for the extended families -- all the cash being repaid by the Home Office. Local well-wishers were granted £450 by the council to give the evacuees a warm welcome with a special party.

But now the families say they want to leave the estate for somewhere more peaceful.

Father-of-seven Xhevat Mjekiqi said one female member of his family was injured when a stone hit her leg.

"It is all the time. We like England, but not here."

Schoolboy Jeton Sadriu, 14, said his family wished to stay in England and he wanted to finish his education here before returning to his homeland.

He added the families feared the continuing dangers in Kosovo and the landmines littering the country.

Council housing manager Steve Tilly who spearheaded the project to bring the refugees to Burnley said those remaining had applied for exceptional leave to stay.

He added decisions would be based on individual circumstances, but the Home Secretary was expected to take the view that the majority were no longer at risk and would have to return to their country.

It would then be open to the families to seek asylum, he added.

Housing company spokesman Alan Tyrrell said the attacks on the local refugees homes were totally unacceptable.

"What on earth have they done to deserve this?" he said.

Coun Caddy added the council would do all it could to stamp out the harassment.