TWO men who led a residents association disbanded by Blackburn Council are going head-to-head with a new organisation.

Eddie Duxbury and Peter Newton were officers of Bank Top Community Association, Blackburn, when it was dissolved in 2001 because of financial irregularities.

Now they have set up the Ashworth Street Estate Action Group and are set to rival a new group which replaced their old organisation.

Mr Newton, 60, lives on the estate with his wife, Christine and 84-year-old mother-in-law Jenny Barron.

He said: "We are being overrun by people who are, quite frankly, making our lives a misery. We have loud music, rubbish, low-lifes and a plague of rats.

"There are many decent people who have lived on this estate for a long time, but they are being forced to think about looking for somewhere else to live."

Mr Newton and neighbour Eddie Duxbury, have formed Ashworth Street Estate Action Group.

Mr Duxbury, 73, said: "We have a myriad of problems here. The estate is overgrown with weeds, we have litter everywhere. And we have anti-social residents who only come to life at 10pm. They drink in the streets and play loud music.

"The residents are experiencing an increasing problem from gangs of yobs who seem to consider the estate as their own personal training ground for urban terrorism."

Gwyneth Sarkar, Director of Property for Twin Valley Homes said: "After the dissolution of the Community Association and its Housing Sub-Committee by the council, the area had been left with little tenant representation.

"With the support of Twin Valley Homes, there is a now a Tenants and Residents Association in the area, led by a newly-elected committee of Twin Valley Homes tenants and well supported at meetings, at which local residents who are not tenants may also have their say.

"Over the coming months there are plans to support the group with a base and additional resources to support their work.

"We are in the process of developing plans for the estate and planned improvement work to our homes is scheduled to start next year.

"Our team of staff at the district office also support the area and homes that are available to rent are let through B-with-us, which has clearly stated membership requirements."