ANGRY residents have presented a petition to Burnley Council in an attempt to stop their homes being demolished.

Residents from the Daneshouse area of the town gave a petition with nearly 500 names on Thursday in an attempt to stop their home being bulldozed under the Elevate Regeneration scheme.

The petition was handed to council leader Gordon Birtwistle from Daneshouse residents and members of the Shah Jala Mosque in Burns Street.

Two weeks ago residents handed over another petition with 200 names to Burnley MP Kitty Ussher and Daneshouse with Stoneyholme councillor Shah Hussain who are both backing their plight.

The petitions are being sent to Max Steinberg, chief executive of Elevate and Burnley Council in an attempt to stop the demolition.

Residents in Brougham Street, Merton Street, Belford Street and Fold Street say that their homes are in an acceptable state to live in and see no reason why they should be demolished in 2010 or 2011.

And people living in the streets say their views have been ignored at recent consultation meetings by Burnley Council, who still intend to press ahead with the clearance programme.

Brougham Street resident, Mozquir Ali said: "We are giving the petition to Gordon Birtwistle in the hope that he will back our campaign and change the council's mind.

"The houses are sound, there is no reason for them to be knocked down.

"We have a strong community and all the facilities we need in our area so we don't see why we should be forced to move."