COUNCIL chiefs were today accused of abandoning a rat-ridden housing estate in the hope that it might just go away.

Huncoat councillor Dave Parkins unleashed his blistering tirade after joining fellow councillor John Walsh on a tour of Within Grove estate.

The estate -- once earmarked for 390 refugees -- is the subject of a potential takeover by a housing association.

But Coun Parkins, deputy mayor of the borough, today claimed Hyndburn Council had done all it could to forget about the estate -- adding that rubbish now litters the abandoned streets.

Coun Parkins said: "There are rats everywhere.

"Rubbish is dumped everywhere. Houses are empty and are being run down.

"We walked around the whole estate and it is a disgrace. No effort is being made.

"We talk to the residents and they say they feel they have been abandoned and I have to agree with them.

"The council office on here has been closed and the tenants feel as though the area has been left to rot."

Coun Parkins is arranging a meeting for residents and interested parties to establish what the residents' main concerns are.

He hopes people power will lead to action.

He added: "The Conservative-led administration has made a point of expressing its desire to tidy up Hyndburn. How can that be the case when they are ignoring whole estates?"

Earlier this year, Hyndburn Council revealed it was in negotiations with Manchester-based Portico Housing Association in a bid to demolish some of the houses and create a new estate residents could be proud of.

Those discussions are still ongoing. Responding to the council accusations, Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "We have invested heavily in cleansing and Huncoat, along with everywhere else, has benefited.

"We are working hard towards improving Huncoat and are negotiating with various people about what improvements can be made. I would urge Coun Parkins to contact me with specific problems and we will sort them out."

A council spokesman said the environmental health department had been made aware of the problems the estate was suffering.