ANGRY residents are calling for action over a crumbling building being used by children as a playground.

Neighbours in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn said they are 'at their wits end' over the lack of action at a former salon, which had fallen into disrepair and become dangerous in recent years.

The building at 245 Livesey Branch Road, which is sat on top of a culvert, is suffering from subsidence and has scaffolding erected around the exterior.

As well as the building being an eyesore, residents said they are struggling to park nearby, as well as being concerned it could collapse and for the safety of local children, who are using it as a 'play area'.

One neighbour, who is calling on Blackburn with Darwen Council to take action, said: “We are at our wits end.

“Half of the house looks like it is falling down and we’re struggling to park.

“Kids are climbing the scaffolding and entering the house, we are all scared they are going to burn it down and us with it."

Another resident said: “We are also scared at the possibility of subsidence because their is a collapsed culvert under the property.

“The council sent a surveyor round to my house 12 months ago because of the signs of subsidence but nothing has happened.

“The council hasn’t been back in touch, to be honest this is ridiculous.

“Our councillors are letting us down and I plea to them to help and get this sorted.”

Cllr Keith Murray, who represents the area, said: “The building has been in need of repair for some time and that is down to the state of the culvert which is under the building.

“There are half a dozen on Livesey Branch Road and a lot of them are over 100-years-old and made from sand stone.

“Occasionally these culverts colapse due to their age which is what has happened here.

“Because it is located under the building it makes it more difficult to repair.”

Cllr Phil Riley, borough regeneration boss said the council was aware of the situation and was working with the owner to resolve it.

He said: “The house has not been abandoned.

“There has been a long standing issue with a culvert that is located under the house, it is one of the main culverts in the area and runs from the hill to the main road.

“The problem is, it is the job of the owner to repair it, not the council.

“The council has been working with the owner for some considerable time and he has now taken on the responsibility of fixing the culvert and is in the process of making repairs.”