A MAN being robbed in front of his young children was the final straw for a group of Prestwich residents who claim they have suffered years of crime-related incidents.

Householders in Bland Road and Hilton Drive said: "Enough is enough!" after a catalogue of car thefts, burglaries, anti-social behaviour, assault and speeding traffic.

People from more than 50 households attended a meeting to expand their Homewatch scheme and set up a residents association.

Chairman of the residents association, Clare Levy, said: "It is a culmination of things but one of my neighbours was violently carjacked a couple of months ago. He was in his house at the time and his two children witnessed it. That was the final straw."

Mrs Levy said a poll was carried out at the meeting, at the Servite Social Centre in Bury New Road, and 92 per cent of those present had been a victim of crime.

She said: "The figures speak for themselves. We have all agreed that enough is enough and we will not be ignored. These issues are compounded by the fact that Bland Road is used as a cut-through by speeding vehicles avoiding Bury New Road. This is a danger in itself as it highlights the volume of strangers travelling through our neighbourhood."

The newly-formed association, in conjunction with the Homewatch scheme, aims to lobby for traffic-calming measures, which they hope will help to reduce crime.

The meeting was attended by Homewatch co-ordinator Keith Middleton and Sedgley councillor, Andrew Garner.

Coun Garner said he offered his support and advice to the residents, adding: "It is my duty as one of their local councillors to represent them and bring their concerns to the notice of the council. I have agreed to speak to the traffic management unit at Bury Council regarding possible traffic calming measures."

Mrs Levy added: "We have a varied community of families with young children, elderly people, Jews and Muslims. Some people have lived here for 30 years. We think that if we can stop traffic speeding through our roads we can create more of a community, which in turn we hope will reduce crime."

Representatives of the residents" association are planning to raise their concerns at the next meeting of Prestwich area board, on Monday, July 18 at St Monica"s RC High School.