ANGRY villagers took a 60-car motorcade into Burnley to drive home objections against a home for problem boys.

Around 100 Clowbridge residents sounded horns and waved banners against the bid to convert the former Moorland View Nursing Home into a residential centre for a dozen local authority-referred boys from eight to 18.

And at a rally at Burnley centre bandstand, they handed Burnley MP Peter Pike a 500-name petition underlining objections to the centre they say would lead to unruly teenagers creating big problems for the community.

But although Mr Pike pledged his support for their campaign, he could offer little hope of halting the plan by Surrey-based businessman Daryl Chick.

Residents accept the centre does not need new planning permission and there is little they can do to stop its registration.

Mr Pike told them: "I understand your feelings and I do not consider Moorland View to be suitable."

He added: "I will pursue this matter, but I will not make any promises I cannot deliver.

"Planning laws would have to be changed and that would take at least two years and that won't help you. But we will see what we can do."

Dave Latham, joint chairman of Dunnockshaw Residents' Association, newly formed to fight the boys' centre plan, said: "We know there is not much we can do to stop it.

"But today we are expressing our feelings and the feelings of the community - the whole village has turned out.

"Perhaps our expression of dissatisfaction with the unfair and unjust system will help bring about changes."

Mr Latham said villagers feared the present crime-free community would be plagued by problems once the home opened.

"We will be getting boys with behaviour problems from all over the country.

"Why doesn't Mr Chick set up his centre near his own home in Surrey?"

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