RESIDENTS against a private children's home in Darwen are carrying out a leaflet drop after forming an action committee to oppose the plans.

People living in streets around Whitehall Terrace believe the home -- which will cater for four teenage boys -- will cause a disruption in the neighbourhood.

The applicant, Darwen social worker Pauline Ainsworth, has tried to reassure people who fear increased noise and anti-social behaviour that the centre will not be for young offenders.

Now the protesters have formed the Whitehall Action Group which has the theme "Commitment to the Neighbourhood" and local residents were elected to positions such as chairman and secretary at a recent private meeting.

They also plan to carry out a leaflet drop around Whitehall to gain even more support for their campaign. Tracey Kenyon, who is a member of the committee and lives next door to the proposed site, said: "We are holding a public meeting next Tuesday and want to publicly invite the applicant, Pauline Ainsworth, to attend to allay our fears.

"We would like to be able to hold a question and answer session where we can put our questions to her. We will also be inviting Whitehall councillors Karimeh and David Foster.

"We have more than 400 leaflets which we will be putting through all the doors in the Whitehall area. Quite a few elderly people don't want to be going out to the meeting when it's dark so we will have someone doing the minutes to let them know what has been said." The meeting will begin at 7.30pm at St Barnabas' Church Hall, in Watery Lane, on Tuesday, November 2.

Mrs Ainsworth said: "I have no problem going to a meeting but I will not be heckled and abused. If people are willing to listen to the facts and not rumours then I am willing to speak to them.

"It would also have to be chaired by someone independent to the situation, not by a resident who has sent a letter of objection."