DESPERATE residents living on a troubled estate have called on Blackburn Council help them win the fight against thieves and vandals.

Town hall bosses have now pledged to investigate residents labelled as troublemakers on the Whitebirk estate.

Council chiefs are now gathering evidence and have promised to take legal action anyone they can prove is causing problems for their fellow tenants.

Housing bosses and police met with worried residents after they handed a petition calling for action on the estate.

A private firm, Loynds Security Services, is also patrolling the estate following complaints from the neighbours.

The tenants of Brecon Road and Hereford Road sent an open letter to housing chiefs. It read: "It is absolutely disgusting and unbelievable what we are going through. These youths and children are smashing bottles outside homes, vandalising properties, throwing bricks, lighting fires on grass verges and near houses and using threatening behaviour towards anyone who dares to confront them." The call for help continues: "These people are uncontrollable and action needs to be taken now. We have the right to live decently, so we are asking for help so something can be done now.

"It is just like a forgotten estate, we cannot get anything done and we are decent people who can't take any more of this."

Housing officers have written a report to councillors on the estate's problems.

The report said: "As a result of a meeting with residents the tenancy services officer has been deployed to gather further supporting evidence to progress any enforcement proceedings that may be appropriate.

"It is intended that further action will be progressed against the perpetrators of this nuisance, when sufficient evidence has been obtained."

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