RESIDENTS of a picturesque Rossendale village are campaigning to throw out plans for a housing estate which will almost double the population.

Janice Johnson, chairman of Irwell Vale Residents Association and owner of Irwell Vale Nursery, said: "If we don't fight for it we will lose our village. More and more developers will move in until it is like the Nuttall Lane estate in Ramsbottom, which just keeps on growing."

The land, known locally as the village green, was revoked to the Duchy of Lancaster and offered to the residents' association.

But they would have had to pay for the upkeep of the unadopted roads and bridges in the village and so the offer was refused.

It is earmarked for housing in the district plan and now a Bolton-based developer has put in an application to build 21 homes. Janice added: "With those houses will come about 40 cars, all using the single-track hump-backed bridge to enter the village.

"The company has said we could have land on the opposite side of the River Irwell for the children to play on, but it is narrow, leads down to the river and has a cess pit on it.

"I can't believe in this day and age new houses come before children having the right to play. Obviously if they put the houses up there will be even more children with nowhere to play."

She has written and to MP Janet Anderson and the Secretaries of State at the Department of the Environment and Heritage.

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