SOME of the people who fled to Blackburn from their volcano ravaged Caribbean island have left the town in disgust after refusing to live on an "appalling" estate.

Two of the four families who came to the area last week refused to live on the Shadsworth estate after a minibus tour through the streets.

But one family, who have now settled on the estate on Broderick Road, love their new home .

John and Ann White said: "Shadsworth is very different than Montserrat but we are very happy. The people are friendly."

John, 77, added: "It is terrible that these people refuse the homes. How can they have judged the place so fast. They must have been told something beforehand."

Ann, 67, added: "Beggars cannot be choosers. We had to run for our lives. We lost everything. We are grateful to the council for offering us a home."

The evacuees, part of a group of 24, have moved to Birmingham to stay with relatives who were also forced to flee their homes on Montserrat. Jonathan Pond, of the Montserrat Association, which has been helping the evacuees, said: "Montserratians enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. They thought the area was appalling.

"They saw dirty streets and in general thought the place looked inhospitable.

"It was one hell of a culture shock for them. One of the women was a policewoman in Montserrat and she had heard stories about crime in the area. Their island is trouble free, they simply don't have crime over there. They thought they were coming to Blackburn to be safe but when they heard about crime they did not think it was a good place to let their children live.

"They came from a living hell straight to another hell."

Shadsworth councillor Tony Humphrys said the people were ungrateful and did not give the estate, which has been greatly improved, a chance.

The two remaining families are said to be settling in.

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