TENANTS on the Springs Estate have voted overwhelmingly to go it alone for another five years.

They have voted by 11 to one to keep control of the day-to-day running of the estate through a tenant management co-operative.

Some 239 people, 61 per cent of those eligible, cast their vote. Of those, 219 (or 92 per cent) voted to keep the co-op, and 20 (eight per cent) voted against.

Springs is the only estate in the borough to opt out of Bury Council control.

For the last five years a management committee, elected by tenants, has dealt with repairs, lettings and rent collection. It receives grant money from the council, which still owns the properties and does major works, to employ professional staff.

Councillor John Smith, Bury's housing spokesman, said the vote was "a huge endorsement" of the Springs co-operative.

"It's an excellent turnout and reflects all the hard work done over the last four years," he said. "As a result of the vote, the co-op will now run for another five years and it has the full support of the council."