RESIDENTS are calling for action to be taken over “death trap” garages which are a magnet for arsonists and gangs of youths.

The private garages in Harrow Road, Heaton, have already been the scene of one death and several fires, costing taxpayers thousands of pounds.

Bill Hart, aged 82, died last September after plunging through one of the garage roofs.

The pensioner fell eight feet and died instantly after the roof gave way beneath him as he was carrying out work on his own garages.

Residents raised the problem at a meeting of Bolton Council area forum in July but since then, say they have seen no progress on the site.

They want the garages to be knocked down or someone to buy the site for renovation.

Stuart Wright, aged 60, of Harrow Road, said: “It’s a very dangerous site and it attracts a lot of anti-social behaviour, but the worst thing is there are lives at risk. One man sadly died and I’ve seen another kid have a near miss when he was running across the roof and his foot went through. It could have been a lot worse.”

Mr Wright said that there has been a fire a month at the site over the last year and that police have attended the garages on 20 separate occasions.

The fire service confirmed it had attended Harrow Road to put out rubbish which had been set alight on six occasions in the last 12 months, but said there may have been further incidents.

The average cost to the fire service of attending such incidents is just under £2,000, according to the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Although a privately-owned site, the council said it was still working to respond to residents’ concerns over the Harrow Road garages.

It said steps have also been taken to get young people involved in organised activities to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area.

A spokesman said fly-tipping at the site had been removed and police were monitoring the area.

She added: “We are tackling the issue in a phased way and have issued notices instructing four owners to clear and tidy their premises and the land surrounding it.

“These notices were issued to the owners and posted on site on October 6 giving them two months to carry out the required work.

“Failure could result in prosecution or works being carried out in default and a charge being placed on the property.”

The council added that it has contacted the majority of the 30 garage owners and would hold a meeting next month to discuss the future of the site.