ANGRY residents claim they have Beirut on their doorsteps because of homes left derelict in their neighbourhood.

The two houses on Lever Street, Little Lever, are privately-owned but have not been lived in for more than two years.

As a result they have fallen into disrepair.

Paint is peeling from them, windows are boarded up, bricks have been left to crumble, and rubbish and weeds are piling high all around them.

Mrs Shirley Winward lives nearby. She said: "We do not know who owns either house but they are a disgrace.

"A lot of people in the neighbourhood are complaining about the houses.

"One used to be lived in by an old lady and her son and I believe someone bought it when they moved out.

"The other was rented and finished up in the mess it is in today.

"I am sure whoever owns either house would not want to live next door to them. Yet innocent people have to.

"This is a nice area. People look after their homes and it seems so unfair to be left with these houses on our doorsteps.

"It makes me ashamed when I have visitors at my house. It looks like Beirut.

"I have been on to the council and they sent an environmental health officer to have a look. The officer told me there was nothing she could do because neither property was rat infested.

"But surely it is a matter of time if they remain as they are.

"They are an eyesore, and are just as bad around the back.

"Apart from not being fair to everyone else in the area, they must be quite dangerous.

"They attract vandals and youths. A caravan was left in the bigger of the two houses and that was set on fire.

"We may not know who owns the properties but we would like to appeal to them to either sell the houses, pull them down, or renovate them."