RESIDENTS are preparing to go to war with cable giants Nynex to keep the peace on their streets.

Home owners in the Anglia Drive area of Oswaldtwistle are opposed to the company laying cables they do not want - and fear their children's safety could be at threat as work is due to begin during the summer holidays.

Despite all but two of the 26 homes in the area opposed to the workmen coming in, the Bolton-based company insist that work will go ahead - but not until they meet with residents to alleviate their fears. One mother-of-two who was among the close-knit community who handed a petition to Nynex officials, wants the company to stay away for good.

She said: "We don't want the cables anyway but are very concerned they are planning to start work in a couple of weeks just when the children break up for the school holidays."

Another angry resident who also has two young children, added: "This is a very quiet area and the kids love to play out but now they may not be able to with all this work going on. We are all very proud of our homes and gardens and we don't want them coming in and messing things up."

But Nynex public relations manager Jackie Paterson says that disruption will be kept to a minimum.

She said: "It is more than likely we will carry out the work but we will meet with residents again to tell them exactly what we intend to do. There will be very few mechanical diggers and most of the work will be done manually so there should be no fears for the safety of the children."

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