Families living in Wyke are being urged to leave their armchairs and press for projects to breathe new life into their estates.

Newsletters have been sent to 1,000 houses in Wyke appealing to tenants to get involved.

The leaflet targets tenants in Shirley Manor, St Mary's, Aysgarth Close, Hobson Fold, Wykelea Close, Eden Close, Wilson Road, Wycoller and Earlswood Home for the elderly.

It has been sent out by Bradford's Community Association for Regeneration of Estates (CARE).

The newsletter asks tenants: "Why be satisfied with what you have got if you can get much better? We offer you no guarantees for success - this depends entirely on you, the residents and tenants. But we can guarantee that if you do not try, nobody else will do it for you."

The move follows a decision to put West Royd, Shipley; Thornton; Long Lea, Keighley and Crossley Wood, Bingley in the first phase of a new £3 million mini-regeneration scheme by Bradford Council.

CARE chairman Mike Stocks says he is delighted that the scheme has been launched, but disappointed Wyke has not been selected for the first round.

Mr Stocks said: "We will look at any and every source of funding. But we need more members and more people to support what we are trying to do."

He said the aim was for crime reduction schemes, improvements to houses and job training schemes.

He said all the Wyke estates had different problems, ranging from work required in houses to drug problems and young people roaming the estate.

The Wyke residents have been told in the newsletter that a survey will be carried out by the organisation in the next few weeks to find out what the community wants and urge them to join in.

Executive committee member for Homes and Environment, Councillor Jim O'Neill, said: "I would encourage any sort of participation and would also encourage them to set up a tenants' federation in Wyke. Tenants' involvement is definitely the way forward."

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