CONCERN over the state of Burtonwood village has prompted residents to set up a new group to combat the issues.

The group, which is still in its early stages, hopes to organise a public meeting within the next month but people interested are urged to get in touch with organisers - two of whom are Karen Lynch of Fairclough Street and Brian Mason of Mercer Street.

Mrs Lynch, aged 52, said: "I have lived in Burtonwood all my life and can see that standards are declining. Last week Brian sat on the rec with his four-year-old daughter and watched 38 wagons go by.

"We're fed up with lack of policing, the anti-social behaviour of young people, HGVs trundling through country lanes, litter on the streets, village shops closing down to the point where there is only one left and feeling ignored by Warrington Borough Council.

"Being positioned on the border of Warrington and St Helens is like being between the devil and the deep blue sea."

Mrs Lynch blames much of the teenage behaviour on underage drinking. "When I was a teenager there weren't off licences selling us alcohol."

More than 60 people have been in touch with Mr Mason and Mrs Lynch expressing support for the residents group and they hope it will ensure that the opinions of Burtonwood people are heard at a high level.

Mrs Lynch said: "There are so many people who feel strongly about stopping the decline in Burtonwood that as a group surely our voices must be heard."

Contact Mrs Lynch on 223302 and Mr Mason on 291078.