HOME owners in Widnes are battling against plans to build a blocks of flats - after they were announced by a notice on a lamppost.

Widnes Sixth Form College sold off its tennis courts at Cronton Lane to builders Wilson Connolly who plan to build 60 flats in five, three-storey blocks.

A local resident said: "It's incompatible with the area and we don't have any choice, it's just imposed on us while the people who make the profit can walk away."

Donna Oxley, who lives on Stratton Park, said: "If there's 60 flats it's ridiculous, where are they going to park?"

Lorna Schlechte and Cliff Bond moved in when the proposals stood at eight houses.

Lorna said: "The original proposal was fine, we moved on to the road on the basis of that. It feels to me as if the college has ignored the wishes of the residents altogether."

Cliff said: "There's other issues like the effect on houses prices."

The original planning permission was for 15 houses but the first residents knew about the new plan was from last Sunday's notice.

The college sold the land to raise money for a modern new block to replace their portable buildings.

College head, Paul Grainger, said: "I think some rather swanky apartments could be good for the village and the college - but I'm just Joe Public on this, now."

The plan is expected to come before Halton Council in October and a spokesman for Wilson Connolly said: "We have been in discussion with the planning and highways departments.

"Great care has been taken to ensure the proposed apartments are in keeping with the current look and feel of the area."