A WOMAN behind controversial plans to open a private children's home has had paint-stripper thrown at the door.

Pauline Ainsworth, a qualified social worker, applied to convert a house in Whitehall Terrace, Darwen, into a home for four teenage boys who have been in local authority care.

But residents claimed it was an unsuitable site and submitted a petition containing 235 names to the council, plus 70 individual letters of objection.

Now Pauline believes the paint-stripper incident is a result of her application.

But today Tracey Kenyon, one of the residents opposed to the plan, said such an extreme form of objection was not condoned by anyone in the neighbourhood. Pauline said: "We discovered the paint-stripper when we went round to the house. It is all over the door and has left brown stains all over it. It is worrying because it makes you think what else could happen.

"Obviously can't prove who did it but if this is some sort of revenge attack against the plans, what's going to happen if it gets approved?"

The home would cater for males aged between 11 and 17 who have been in care for reasons such as parents' substance misuse, death of parents or relationship breakdowns, and would involve nine members of staff working on a rota basis.