RESIDENTS who claim they endured "seven months of hell" during demolition and building work at a nearby garage are seeking compensation.

Neighbours in West Street, Burnley, next to Sanderson Ford's new car sales and garage complex , called in Burnley Council while the former mill was being demolished because they claimed the work being done seven days a week.

Now some of them claim the vibration could have damaged their homes and are seeking compensation.

Burnley Council's environmental department served a notice on the company during the work to try to reduce the inconvenience.

Briggs Demolition, of Bury, was prosecuted for not complying with the notice and fined £500 in December by Reedley magistrates.

Residents have written to Sanderson Ford's owners Sanderson Bramall, of Harrogate, but although the reply apologised for problems caused while the work took place it clearly stated no compensation would be paid.

Pensioner Mrs Joan Strange claims cracks have appeared in her home, doors are jamming and she has called in structural engineers. Another neighbour Tracey Hurrell says her TV nearly crashed to the floor when the house shook with the vibrations. She has also written to the parent company.

Mrs Strange said: "It was like an earthquake and everything started to shake. Another neighbour had some valuable ornaments and they all broke. We had to put of with seven months of hell with the dust, noise, aggravation and mental trauma we had to go through, and they say they will not pay any compensation."

Director of the dealership Les Dearden said that throughout the redevelopment the company sought to maintain a "productive dialogue" with local people.

"Any particular problems with noise and disruption have been investigated by us and dealt with on an individual basis to the apparent satisfaction of the vast majority of residents.

"Now that the redevelopment is complete, almost everyone locally agrees that it has greatly improved the site and its impact on the environment.

"However, we are continuing to consult the residents of West Street to ascertain if any further tidying up needs to be done and will put together an action plan to deal with any specific requests in the next few weeks."

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