TENANTS and residents say they are "living in fear" in their own homes because of ongoing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Drug taking, drug dealing, fighting, abusive behaviour, threats and vandalism are among the ordeals residents in Little Lever said they have been facing for more than 12 months.

Police were called to The Haven, in Independent Street, on Thursday "when the situation came to a head", one tenant said.

A wheelie bin was hurled through the window of one of the ground-floor bedsits and several other glass panes were smashed.

The flats are let out by housing association and landlord Bolton at Home, who said they are supporting the victim of this latest incident.

They moved to reassure residents that they are "taking action" and working with the police.

Cllr Sean Hornby has taken up the cause after he received complaints from six residents, and is calling for Bolton at Home to take action.

He said: "I fear for the good tenants on this small development of bedsits and nearby residents in Arthur Street, Independent Street and Ainsworth Road whose lives are being made hell.

"The Haven was once a nice old people's sheltered accommodation. But since the letting policy was changed, it is now being let to what can only be described as undesirable anti-social drug dealers and drug takers.

"On Thursday, a BMW pulled up, there was a row and the next thing, a black bin had been thrown through the window.

"Bolton at Home needs to take action to remove the problem and restore normality."

He added: "These are small bedsits. No one wants to live in a bedsit. Could the housing association not demolish these flats and build some more suitable accommodation?"

Bolton Council's anti-social behaviour team is understood to be investigating the issues.

Residents say they are frightened feel they have been neglected by Bolton at Home as their landlord.

One tenant, aged in his 70s, said he had made multiple complaints to the landlord over the past 12 to 18 months.

The Haven tenant, who did not want to be named, said: "People have been threatened. People have put wheelie bins through windows. There has been criminal damage. It is frightening.

"We have drug users living in the bungalows. They can be very nasty. People are taking drugs and that is bringing dealers to the area. And then it all kicks off here. People come here making threats. There is lots of abuse and fights breaking out.

"On Thursday there were a lot of arguments. By the time the police arrived the bins were through the window but the people responsible had run off.

"It is causing us aggravation."

Bolton at Home said they are currently setting up a weekly drop-in session to give residents and tenants the opportunity to raise issues and report anti-social behaviour.

A Bolton at Home spokesman said: "We are in contact with the victim of this incident and are supporting them. We’re aware of separate reports of anti-social behaviour in the area and would like to reassure tenants and residents we’re listening to them and taking action to tackle it.

“Working with the police, we’re in the process of setting up a weekly drop-in session at The Haven community centre where people can report anti-social behaviour and other issues directly to a local PCSO and our neighbourhood safety team.

“We would urge residents to report criminal behaviour directly to the police. Anti-social behaviour can also be reported to our neighbourhood safety team on 01204 328000."