ELDERLY residents are still fighting to have their security fence fixed -- seven months after it was demolished by when a car ploughed into it.

Residents of Tanworth Walk in Halliwell have been campaigning to have the fence mended since last August, when a teenager drove through the 3ft high brick wall surrounding the council flats and broke the security gates.

Without the wrought iron fence, the two blocks of four flats have been left unprotected and open to the public.

Ground floor tenants Kathleen Catterall, aged 73, and Norman Robinson, aged 82, are frightened to go out and leave their home unattended.

Mrs Catterall, aged 73, said: "I saw the car come through the wall and have been asking for the fence to be fixed since. It allows open access to our flat and all the other flats in our block. We don't feel safe without it.

"Neighbours have reported kids trying to get into our back windows when we're out and it's unsettling. We've lived here 14 years and we love our flat, but now when we go out it's a constant worry what we might come back to. We just want our peace of mind restored."

Mrs Catterall has contacted Bolton Council's housing department, the police and local councillors on numerous occasions and is angry that seven months after the incident the fence has still not been repaired.

She said: "I've reported it 13 times and keep being told it's out to contract. We've had to tie the gates up with string while they get their act together."

A spokesman for the council's housing department said: "There seems to have been some confusion over who was fixing it, but a contractor has been out today to rebuild the brick pillar, then in three weeks the wrought iron fence will be replaced."