RESIDENTS living near to a 'scrapyard' in Farnworth say it is making their lives a misery.

Neighbours of Buckley Lane Garage say the site is an eyesore and is affecting house prices in the area.

Flo Salthouse, of Buckley Lane, who lives next door but one to the garage, said: "It's been a problem for years. I know the owner's been contacted on many occasions over the years to clear the place up, but it's just fallen on deaf ears.

"We've had petitions and many years ago we even took legal action, but nothing happened. We just feel like we're banging our heads against a brick wall."

Neighbour Jean Hoyes said: "This is supposed to be a residential area, but they're allowing this huge eyesore right in the middle of it."

Farnworth councillor James Lord said: "It's a derelict rundown area, smack in the middle of a residential area, and in my opinion the biggest eyesore in Lancashire.

"This site has been a problem for years, but I recently had 15 residents come to my surgery to complain about it.

"They're sick to the back teeth, but there is a limit to what action the council can take because it's an established yard."

Bolton Council's Head of Planning, Howard Barratt, said: "The site at Buckley Lane was granted planning permission for housing about four or five years ago, but that has not gone ahead.

"We've received a number of calls about the site in recent weeks.

"It is in a poor condition and we have been trying to persuade the owner voluntarily to carry out some environmental improvements such as reglazing. He has done some of this and some of the forecourt has also been cleared.

"The council can only take enforcement action if there has been a breach of planning control. At the moment, it is really a visual issue."

John Charlton, whose family has owned the garage since 1961, says he's working with the council to improve the area and does not want to upset his neighbours.

Mr Charlton said: "It's not a scrapyard. We store old commercial vehicles and we also have a vehicle workshop.

"I agree it's not the tidiest of places, but when we put good vehicles out on the forecourt they were smashed.

"We've put fencing around the site but kids keep getting in and smashing everything they can get their hands on.

"It cost me £400 to replace the windows on a crane, but two weeks later they were smashed again.

"I don't want to upset the neighbours. I am trying to tidy the place up and I won't be buying any more vehicles, but we have a lot to get rid of and it won't happen overnight."