PENSIONERS have thanked the Citizen for revealing how they were too scared to leave their homes for fear of being hit by falling gutters.

Following our article (Citizen September 3), Preston Council has sent workmen to the Sunningdale senior citizens' bungalows, off Woodplumpton Lane, Broughton, to clear the guttering, which was collapsing under the weight of grass and moss.

When it rained, the water would gush over the gutters, turning the sides of the houses into mini-waterfalls.

But council officials have told local councillor George Wilkins - who presented a sample of the gutter muck to members of the housing committee - they will remedy the problem once nearby trees have shed their leaves.

Councillor Wilkins said: "The council sent a team up to inspect the problem and a couple of houses has some work done of them immediately.

"The job will be costed and I have been told they are looking at starting the work in the autumn."

Coun Wilkins added he felt the job would have been left a lot longer had it not been for the Citizen publicising their plight on the front page. He said: "Thanks to the Citizen's story and the prominence it was given, something will be done. We cannot thank you enough."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.