ANGRY neighbours are demanding action on empty tower blocks which they today branded the "biggest pigeon lofts in Britain".

Families living in Mill Hill, Blackburn, have put up with the eyesore flats since the last residents moved out more than two years ago.

Now they have launched a campaign to have the flats demolished before their presence makes their homes worthless.

Ron Howarth, of St Aidan's Close, said: "The council said they were going to knock down the flats when they became empty, but years on nothing has been done.

"People can't sell their houses because nobody wants to live near the flats -- they are affecting house prices as well as everything else. They are an eyesore and a danger -- children play in them, but windows are broken and I don't think they are safe."

Ron and his wife Marie, their neighbours Bill and Lorraine Wright and Maureen and Lenny Salmon, have all bombarded Blackburn with Darwen Council with calls about the flats and asked their councillors for answers but to no avail.

Ron said: "Councillors just walk away from us or fob us off. If they don't know what is going to happen then who does?"

Marie said: "We want to know why the flats have been left empty for so long. They look terrible. There are washing machines on the balconies and rubbish all over the place. "The council has told us the flats are not being pulled down because they cannot afford it but we think we are being fobbed off.

"It's not very nice when we own our houses and we look after them and pay our council tax. Mill Hill is a great area. We have all the amenities we need but these flats are just unsightly.

"We are hoping they will be pulled down and perhaps sheltered housing put up."

Council head of housing Gwyneth Sarkar said: "The council inspects the site of the flats twice each day and is aware that some of the security fencing is down. This is due to be repaired. The complaint about fly tipping will be looked at immediately.

"At this stage it is still not possible to say precisely when work will start on demolishing the three blocks.

"The council continues in negotiation with potential contractors about the sale of the site and subsequent demolition and re-development. Delays have been the result of difficulties in attracting Government regeneration monies in to make the site attractive to private developers.

"The council is aware that this is causing concerns for people living in the Mill Hill area and I can confirm that an early solution for the site has always been and continues to be an important priority for the council."

Pictured from the left are Ron Howarth, Jean Gough, John Kay, Mark Howarth, Lorraine Wright, Christopher Gough, Christine Walton and children Emily Walton and Cory Kay.