A FORMER community association chief has issued a strong warning to council bosses: "License private landlords to save my area."

Christine Connell, who lives in Hall Street, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, made the plea because she feels, along with other residents, that unchecked private landlords are driving down the area.

She said the value of houses has plummeted so low landlords are able to buy property at rock bottom cost and then rent them out for profit.

Mrs Connell, 54, who was head of Ivy Street Community Association for 16 years until two years ago, said that as a result the whole area suffers from social problems and nuisance as tenants are left unchecked and property becomes dilapidated.

Just two years ago a two bedroom mid-terrace property in the Infirmary area was fetching around £32,000, but, Mrs Connell said, one such house in Hall Street has recently been sold for £24,000.

She said: "Every landlord here needs to be registered. They need to give them licences with rules and regulations and if they break them they should be fined.

"The time has come for this to happen. There are a lot of nice properties but these people who don't look after them are driving the area down.

Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods said: "A pilot scheme was recently launched in the Bank Top Renewal Area and discussions have been held with landlords from that area to make them aware of how they can become accredited.

"The Government's Communities Plan contains details of a proposed licensing scheme for Private Landlords in low demand areas which would be a mandatory scheme.

"The current proposals are that this would regulate the management of properties in the private rented sector which would assist in dealing with problems caused by the increasing numbers of privately rented properties in our low demand areas.

"There will be further announcements on this as part of the roll out of the Communities Plan launched by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister."