FED-UP residents on a Nelson housing estate have overwhelmingly backed a scheme to create a "kickabout" area in a juvenile nuisance blackspot.

A former council-owned garage site used as a dumping ground will be cleared to make way for a safe area for local youngsters to play ball games.

Pendle Council's Nelson area committee is recommended to give the scheme on Hodge House estate the go-ahead on Monday, with work progressing as quickly as possible.

The estate is in Bradley ward which has the highest recorded juvenile nuisance rate in Pendle. Bored youngsters, who have been blamed for distressing other residents with their "thoughtless" behaviour, have been demanding a games area for years, according to a report by Ashton Carysforth of the council's housing department. A survey of residents was carried out among 786 homes on the estate. Of the 463 replies, 396 (85.5 per cent) were in favour and 67 against. The survey also found that 332 children aged under 16 supported the idea and just 14 were against.

The police and youth workers support the scheme, as does the residents' association. Last year 300 youngsters signed a petition calling for a games area.

The proposed site has become an eyesore with vandalism and rubbish being dumped becoming major problems.

"Swinden Allotment Society has around ten allotments on land adjacent to the site," said Ashton. "In February 1998 the society wrote to the council complaining of more than 30 separate incidents of dumping and vandalism on the land since November 1997.

"The dumping included asbestos, sacks of dead rabbits and puppies, uncountable loads of builder's rubbish, and four cars, three of which were set alight." Planning permission for the kickabout area was passed by the council in March.