Residents who have been the victims of crime and vandalism have fought back by erecting a security fence behind their homes.

Council tenants in West Lane, Keighley, acted after repeated attacks on their homes and sheds.

Members of Lower West Lane Tenants' Association raised £8,500 to pay for a steel fence 1.8 metres high and 140 metres long, which has been erected by Rose Cottage Fencing.

Chairman Arthur Goff said: "We've had a problem for quite some time with people coming up the hill behind us, vandalising sheds and breaking into houses.

"It is a substantial fence that doesn't need maintenance and should stop them gaining access to our homes and gardens.

"All of the people who live in these homes are either elderly or disabled like myself, and now this fence is up they should feel more secure.

"There was no lighting before so we have also spent £600 on security lights which are going to be installed next week."

After initially searching in vein for funding, Arthur managed to secure the majority of the cash through the college in Chester where he was studying.

He explained: "I was doing a course at Trafford Hall and I became aware that it had something called the Gatsby Project, which offers grants of up to £5,000 for environmental projects. After sending in an application they agreed to give us £5,000 towards the fence, which provided us with a massive boost."

The association, which was formed in 1996, also received £2,000 from Keighley's crime prevention fund and £1,500 from Bradford Council's housing department.

Bradford Council's senior housing manager Paul Whittle and tenant involvement officer Pam Tyrrell were on hand to see the fence being unveiled this week.

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