A TERRIFIED family fled their council house after burglars ransacked it and they were pestered by drug addicts.

Lynne Griffin and her two children moved into the house in Ainsdale Road, Great Lever, only two weeks ago.

Lynne says she had been warned that the council estate was notorious for break-ins but was told that things had got better in recent years.

But on Sunday afternoon she returned from a night out to find a window smashed and expensive equipment burgled.

She claims her family was living in fear of drug addicts who knocked on their door at night.

Lynne, 32, said: "I was desperate to find somewhere but I was warned about this area when I was offered the house. The council said it had improved and it was not like it used to be.

"Ever since I moved in here I have had nothing but druggies knocking on my door. I've got two young children and I just can't cope with this.

"When I saw the smashed window and the state of the house after the burglary I was just in a state of shock.

"They've taken a stereo, video recorder and the children's games. I'm on benefits and the only luxury I've got is a car but they have even stolen the road tax money I'd been saving up."

Lynne says she and her two children, Leanne, 13, and Nicki, 11, are now too scared to stay even though they have had to move back in because they have nowhere else to go. She added: "Before we were moved into the house I refused to move into two others because I knew how rough the areas were. All we want is to be able to settle down in a nice place."

A council officer said: "We are sympathetic to her situation and if she wants to transfer elsewhere we will put her on a waiting list for another area.

"The road is on the Orlits Estate which has had substantial refurbishment work carried out on it of around £7m over the past few years. We now have a waiting list for this estate."

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