ELDERLY residents at sheltered accommodation have hit out after being forced to use nearby gardens to access their front doors due to a long-standing flooding problem.

For the past 18 months, several properties in Eachill Gardens, Rishton, have found their front pathways under inches of standing water after heavy rainfall.

The depth of the water is such that some people have to use the paths and lawns of other residents on the estate to reach their front door.

The properties are managed by Hyndburn Homes which has pledged to address the problem after previous work failed to alleviate the flooding

One Eachill 76-year-old resident said: “It’s been a problem for more than 18 months.

“There’s often no way to walk up our own path unless you’re wearing wellies, the grass floods too.

“It’s a design fault which means standing water doesn’t flow away from the path as its slightly lower than the front footpath.

“It’s imposing on our neighbours as we have to walk through their garden to get to our front it’s also difficult for visitors and people delivering things to the houses.

“Some drainage grilles were installed but they have done little to nothing to help.”

Cllr Jeff Scales, who has been assisting the residents, said: “These are elderly residents and deserve a little better.

“The drainage is obviously inadequate on the pathways to their doors.

“When it rains, they are unable to use their pathways.

“I’ve been told that the county council are saying that it’s the responsibility of Hyndburn Homes and said it should be dealt with by the highways authority.”

Kim Smith, head of Neighbourhood Services at Hyndburn Homes, said: “We are aware of past drainage issues and we’re sorry to hear resident are experiencing problems again.

“We attended the two affected properties earlier this year to carry out remedial work, which we understood had resolved the issue.

“But in light of this new information, we have arranged regular visits and make recommendations on any further necessary work.”