HOME Secretary Jack Straw has been urged to press for the introduction of security patrols on estates in Blackburn and Darwen in a bid to tackle nuisance neighbours and problem tenants.

Coun John Williams, deputy leader of the Conservatives on Blackburn with Darwen Council, has sent a letter to the Blackburn MP pointing out that his Labour colleagues at the town hall have not given any consideration to patrols.

He has told Mr Straw that the Labour council has ignored calls from tenants to act over nuisance neighbours and unsociable behaviour by a minority of tenants.

Coun Williams said in his letter: "Had you been fully aware of the situation in your own constituency then you would have taken urgent steps to introduce the warden scheme into estates of your own.

"Blackburn Labour councillors for wards with a large number of council houses have obviously not taken tenants' concerns seriously enough.

"They have not kept you informed of the depth of tenant concern.

"Nor have they agreed to join our call, made in council committees, to demand that you take action.

"First rate tenants, the very ones we cannot afford to lose, are leaving estates, not because of poor quality housing, poor though that may be in some cases, but because of law and order concerns.

"You are our MP. You are the Home Secretary. Act now.

"Even if you do act now, you are guilty of wasting two years of your time in office when tenants lives could have been improved."

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