DARK DAYS (...and even darker nights on estate)

RESIDENTS SAY THEY'RE SCARED TO GO OUT AS LACK OF LIGHTING MEANS THEY FACE ENCOUNTERING TRIP HAZARDS AND DRUG DEALERS

- STEPHEN TOPPPING

NEIGHBOURS on an estate say they feel 'trapped' in their homes during the evening after being left in darkness for months.

Residents at St Paul's Court, Walkden, Salford, say they have made regular complaints about lights not working outside their homes to social landlord Onward Homes.

The issue has left people feeling 'vulnerable, with one tenant tripping up over a kerb in the dark while out with his dog. They say the darkness is also providing the ideal conditions for drug dealing to take place, with the problem now reportedly 'rife' on the estate.

Onwards Homes is aware of the matter and workers are expected to attend the estate later this week. But tenants claim they have been reporting the problem for more than two months and workers' previous visits to St Paul's Court have not rectified the issue.

Bosses have apologised and promised to sort the issues as quickly as possible. Police say tackling drug dealing is a top priority for neighbourhood cops.

"It's very dangerous," said resident Carol Stott, 63. "There are elderly people here that need carers coming, all day and night. We were carrying torches to help them get to the key box - it was pitch black, she couldn't see.