COUNCIL houses in a multi-million pound improvement scheme are no sooner renovated than they are wrecked.

Elderly residents living in Stonemoor Bottom estate, Padiham, told of the misery of seeing children vandalising the estate, hurling bricks and throwing barriers into the brook.

Work on the Government-funded renovation has been going for two years and is currently in the third phase which is a week behind schedule.

Padiham and Hapton area sub-committee member Ann Bartlett said: "As soon as the windows are put in and the kitchen is repaired, it is completely wrecked again.

"If you take a look at 32 Malvern Avenue, it is a wreck. As soon as they do something inside or outside the property, it is wrecked.

"I have been asking for a night watchman on behalf of residents because I know people are absolutely fed up with the vandalism - some is playful but most isn't.

"Contractors leave the site at 4.30pm and by 4.45pm the barriers are down and bricks are being thrown." Pensioner Eric Hill, who lives in Lancaster Drive, said: "Three containers have become a children's playground. If someone falls and breaks a leg or arm, I will not go to help because I will probably be accused of causing the injury.

"We haven't been able to put washing out in our backyard for two years because it is so filthy outside.

"There have been dozens of barrier boards thrown into the brook by children. It is terrible and disgusting."

Councillors Paul Smith and Granville Lord warned that if the committee agreed to a night watchman, he would be employed and paid for by the contractor and only have a remit to guard their property.

If he saw vandalism, he would have no powers to arrest the people responsible. He could only report it like anyone else.

They also said similar problems happened when Stoops estate, Burnley, was being renovated and night watchmen were employed. But they became the target for the vandals.

The committee decided to hold a meeting to determine the duties of a night watchman and report back to a meeting next Thursday.

A letter will be sent to all council tenants reminding them of their tenancy agreements and that they can face eviction if they are a nuisance.

The police will be asked to bring the juvenile nuisance camcorder team into the area.

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