ARSON attacks have been drastically reduced since community wardens began daily patrols in the area.

Figures show the number of call-outs for firefighters to Kenyon Way, Little Hulton, have fallen sharply over the last 12 months. But residents say the community wardens scheme is facing the axe and are calling for more funds.

From March 2004 to 2005, 154 fires were attended to on the estate, compared to 196 in the previous 12 months and 210 the year before. Refuse bins, cars and houses were regular targets for gangs of youths deliberately setting them alight.

Residents say the community warden scheme which patrols the estate during the week has turned young firebugs away from committing arson attacks.

John McCartney, of Kenyon Way Residents' Association, said: "Everybody has noticed that the number of fires on the estate has been falling.

"It used to be a real problem with gangs of teenagers deliberately setting fire to cars and property. We are convinced that the presence of the community wardens has helped to drive these incidents down. It is for these reasons that we're upset that such a successful scheme is being taken away from us."

It is just one of the successes brought about by the community warden scheme which will be scrapped by March 2006.

New police-linked Community Support Officers (CSOs), who have greater powers than the warden, will replace them. But residents are unhappy that the CSOs will not integrate with the community,as the wardens have.

Station Officer Paul Duggan, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We have recorded a decrease of 21 per cent in the number of fires we were requested to attend. In order to achieve results like this we are working in a variety of partnerships throughout Greater Manchester to drive down the numbers of fires which occur. We would broadly welcome any initiative which will help us to achieve this."

Fire bosses have also been campaigning to cut the number of fires on housing estates in Little Hulton. Operation Beat Sweep is continuing this year to clamp down on vandals who set fire to abandoned vehicles with more officers on the beat. Dumped cars are regularly found on a number of housing estates including Amblecote, Whittle Street, the Peel Estate, Kenyon Estate and the Armitage Estate.