A HOUSING estate plagued by crime and anti-social behaviour has been transformed in a £330,000 scheme.

Twelve flats on Dunbar Drive, Great Lever, which were once an eyesore for residents have been turned into six plush three bedroom homes by a housing association.

The one bedroom flats had a reputation of being drug dens, but now, after the makeover, almost 50 families have applied to become tenants of the new homes.

All six houses have now been snapped up and the new residents said they are delighted.

Abu Abdus Hussain, a father-of-two, said: "The houses are really nice. There is a good mixture of families. A lot of the troublemakers who lived here have been moved on. It's a great place for the kids to grow up."

Shaun Doyle, also a father-of-two, said: "They are really nice houses. We moved in with August and we are pleased with the house that we have got." The newly converted homes feature a modern open plan living and dining room area, private garden, secure shed and a drive.

The Contour Housing Association and the Dunbar Drive estate residents association worked together to ensure the project was a success.

Mike Creamer, chief executive of Contour Housing Group, said: "We have improved the appearance of Dunbar considerably and this has had a positive effect on the popularity of the scheme.

"We are pleased that families moving in will be able to take real pride in their homes and contribute to the increasingly vibrant community spirit of the area.

"The completion of the Dunbar Drive flat conversions is just one more piece of our overall regeneration plans for our Bolton properties."

Tess Simpson, of Dunbar Drive Residents Association, said: "A few of the new residents have already started coming to meetings and I am really looking forward to them contributing to the community.

"The flats were an eyesore. We are now really glad that the conversions have taken place. It will be good for the estate."

Great Lever councillor, Ansar Hussain, said: "It's a huge improvement in the area. It's a very positive step which the housing association has taken. There is a shortage of that type of housing in that particular area of Great Lever, so the more houses we have the better it's going to get for people."