YOUNGSTERS who campaigned to have new lighting installed in Bolton to deal with a debilitating congenital eye condition have had their efforts rewarded

Twelve-year-old Yusuf Makkan, together with his younger cousins, campaigned for new lighting in their area for themselves and others who have the condition Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB), and Bolton Council agreed.

CSBN affects people of all ages even those who might have normal vision during daylight hours but find it difficult to see where they are going after dark due to a lack of contrast in their vision due to an abnormality in the optic nerve.

Yusuf, who lives in Daubhill said: "We started Operation Lamppost not just for ourselves but for all the members of the public that walk past that very dark area in the night. Because even people without our eye condition find it difficult."

Bolton Council has now agreed to fit three LED street lights with two set to be installed in Broadhurst Street and one in Back Brandon Street next month.

Yusuf, who attends Eden Boys School, explained: "In the beginning, I kept asking the adults to ring the council but they're so busy with everything they didn't take me seriously. They kept saying they will, but they didn't.

"I thought I'd write a letter myself to Bolton Council. They wrote back saying they don't have any money.

"They advised me to get in touch with my local councillors."

After taking advice from youth charity leader Saeed Atcha, the youngsters decided to organise themselves to get the lighting installed.

A meeting was held with his cousins Moosa Kadva, aged 11, and his brother Eesa, aged eight; Hassan Patel, aged 10, his twin Hussain, and their brother Muhammad-Mushtak, aged six — in his front room with Saeed.

Jobs were delegated, with someone taking notes and meetings were held regularly. Thanks to help of Yusuf's mum, the group set up an email account to contact the councillors, who replied back and promised to discuss it. After Christmas the children heard their call had been answered.

Saeed explained: "To see people so young taking on an active role in their community is fantastic. In Bolton young people today represent 20 per cent of the population but will be 100 per cent of the population in the future.

When they approached me for advice I suggested how they could organised themselves to get through the red tape."

"We all felt very delighted and excited. We jumped for joy that our campaign has succeeded. It will make a big difference for everyone because it is dark in that area so it will make it safer and better people with the condition, I will be able to walk to my grand-dad's easier who lives in the next street."

"We were so happy because this was our very first time we asked for something from Bolton Council and they agreed. We were ready to start a heavy campaign.

Meanwhile the youngsters are far from resting on their laurels and plan to now take on projects which they believe could help the whole community

He added: "I'd say to my friends that you need to tell the council if you have a problem otherwise they won’t know and can’t help you. You can’t complain and say it doesn't make a difference because it does and at least you'll know you tried.

“We can't expect everything to happen by doing nothing.

"We are children, but don't think your voice won't be heard and that you won't be taken seriously.

"Look at what we did. I feel that when one person does something you might not succeed but when other people help you for the same goal we can share ideas and get different opinions and we can succeed."

A council spokeswoman added:"The decision to fit the lights was made after three Rumworth councillors agreed to fund the lamp posts through their area forum monies, and due to the special circumstances."