EMBATTLED Lostock residents are mounting a fresh defence against what they see as another invasion of their sought-after suburb.

Residents of Hollinshurst Drive have formed an action group to protest against plans to knock down two homes in neighbouring Old Hall Clough and replace them with 19 three-storey "mews" type houses.

The application is the latest in a growing line of proposed new developments on the site of existing properties.

It comes just days after the council rejected a scheme to build homes on a small site behind Regent Road.

Residents have complained that the gobbling up of properties with larger gardens to be replaced by higher density housing is placing an intolerable strain on the road system, sewers and local schools.

Zoe Brooks, of Hollinshurst Drive, said: "Our concern is that any house in Lostock, if people can't sell it they will just sell to developers and you will get another 20 houses.

"This is a low density housing area. Having three-storey housing like this will make it like living in a goldfish bowl."

Residents are also concerned that further development will add to traffic around the already congested Chorley New Road.

James Stevens, Tory prospective parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, met with a group of Hollinswood Drive residents yesterday to discuss their concerns.

He said: "Residents in this area are horrified that they have been hit by another development proposal. The time has come to say enough is enough.

"This is going to have a big effect on the local environment. It's going to have a large visual impact before you even consider the impact on the local infrastructure.

"The residents here have had severe problems with flooding in recent months. Because it's an unadopted road they have had to spend money having their drains repaired.

He added: "This is not a political issue and I'm glad that councillors of all political persuasions have taken a strong stance in the past."