Residents fed up with anti-social behaviour have set up their own association to "take control" of their Bradford estate.

The Pollard Park Residents' Association has been set up to tackle problems on the estate and in the surrounding area, and has unveiled a specially-adapted flat which will be used as a contact point.

Irene Metcalf, association chairman, said: "We were sick and tired of being victims to a minority of people and decided to join together and fight back."

Residents said they were fed up with feeling vulnerable on the estate, particularly because of a lack of street lighting.

They also said they were fed up with young people driving stolen cars at high speed on the estate and then burning them out on land nearby.

A committee of 13 has been set up to represent the residents. Mrs Metcalf said: "We have seen other residents' associations successfully taking control of their estates and we want to do the same thing."

She said the main aims of the association were to improve the estate's image and environment and to unite residents.

The association received £25,000 of funding from Regen 2000, a regeneration company based in Barkerend.

It has used part of the money to rent and equip a community flat in Ribbleton Grove, which was officially opened on Saturday by former Bradford councillor for the area Ray Bage.

"I think it is very important that the community now has a contact point where they can come for help," said Mr Bage.

"The community house has visibly lifted spirits on the estate and I think residents feel empowered."

The residents' association has been helped by Bhulla Singh, Bradford Council's area co-ordinator for Bradford North.

Mr Singh said: "This is the way forward for Bradford because communities are taking control of their own environments and working together to improve them.

"The residents are the ones who know best what issues and problems they are facing and we should be working with them to help provide solutions."

The association has also had £10,000 worth of CCTV equipment fitted on parts of the estate that are particularly badly lit.