RESIDENTS in the Whitehall area of Darwen are fighting plans to open a private children's home near their houses.

They believe plans to change a terrace house in Whitehall Terrace into a home for four teenagers will lead to more noise and anti-social behaviour.

But applicant Pauline Ainsworth, a qualified social worker, is hoping to reassure her neighbours and insists that the development would be for young people in need of a home, and not young offenders.

The home would cater for males aged between 11 and 17 who have been in local authority care for reasons such as parents' substance misuse, death of their parents or relationship breakdowns. It would involve nine members of staff working on a rota basis.

A petition signed by 235 people has gone to Blackburn with Darwen planning department with around 70 individual letters of objection. Tracey Kenyon, who lives next door to the house with her 23-month-old baby, said: "It is the middle terrace in a row of three.

"It is a totally inappropriate property for children with problems. We also think there will be an increase in noise."

She said her window had been smashed by a local boy in an incident unconnected with the application and she feared an increase in vandalism if the proposal was accepted.

Neighbour Dorothy Riding, 41, said: "I am concerned about these boys moving in next door because we don't know anything about them or why they aren't with their families.

"We moved here because it was a quiet neighbourhood for my 17-year-old daughter, Fiona, who is severely mentally handicapped."

But Mrs Ainsworth said: "I understand residents' concerns but it does not go hand in hand that because these boys are in care they are offenders. I have got a child and a five-year-old niece who lives nearby so I wouldn't be doing anything which might harm them.

"I've tried to talk to neighbours but they seem to have got an idea in their heads that I'm opening a young offenders' institute.

"I am trying to provide a home for people who can't live at home and there would be no more noise than a family with four children.

"The police have been very supportive and recognise that children need to live in a normal environment."