LIFE-LONG Breightmet residents are demanding to know the future of their rundown street.

Katrina Oldham and her mother Kath have both lived in Greenroyd Avenue all their lives and are angry that Bolton Council have let it deteriorate to its present state.

Katrina, aged 27, lives there with her five-year-old daughter, while her mother lives in another house in the street.

Katrina said: "Out of 127 houses, only about 30 are lived in and the empty ones look disgusting -- all the windows are smashed and the gardens are overgrown.

"Although nobody wants to live at the bottom end, the council won't do anything about it. They seem to think no-one lives here. "

There have been rumours that the street could be knocked down and Katrina has been to her local housing office in New Lane for information.

"They couldn't tell me what was going on and only said that they couldn't do anything until the end of March.

"I've lived here all my life and I choose to live here now, but I don't want to pay £50 a week rent when my house could be taken away tomorrow."

Katrina also wrote to Breightmet councillor John Byrne expressing her concerns.

"We want to know what's going on. I don't want to move, but I'm more worried about my mum. She's frightened of having to move away from everything she has ever known."

Cllr Byrne said: "I was told that Greenroyd Avenue is part of an appraisal. I will check if the street is being neglected, and if any jobs need doing I will make sure they get done."

Katrina, her mother and other residents have set up a group to try and get things done.

"It's awful living here now, people turn their noses up when we tell them where we live, but if they came inside they would see that our houses are lovely and it is the empty ones that give us a bad name."

A Bolton Housing spokesman said: "Greenroyd Avenue is part of an appraisal of the long term viability of the estate. There is no truth in the rumours Katrina heard, no decision has been made and no decision will be made until extensive consultation has taken place.

"After the appraisal we will go with open minds and ask the residents what they want us to do."