Ref. 25585RESIDENTS of a housing estate have vowed to clean up their streets - after they say they have waited too long for the council to do so.

People living in Thorney Park, Wroughton say the area has become dangerous for children, with no rubbish bins and broken glass littering the streets.

And they say repeated calls to Swindon Council failed to get any action so now they are picking up their brooms and cleaning the streets themselves.

Unemployed Colin Grey, 33, said he has been contacting the council about the problem since November when his stepson Thomas Towner, five, became ill after eating tablets meant for horses that he found next door to a bus shelter.

He said: "It's not like this is a dirty area, but there is great community spirit and we want to make it a safer place for our children.

"We're all willing to do this but we need help from the council, we don't expect someone down here every two minutes, just a vehicle to sweep the roads regularly and some bins.

"I decided that something had to be done when Thomas swallowed the tablets, he started foaming at the mouth and we had to take him to the Great Western Hospital to get his stomach pumped."

Housewife Tracey Hearne, 28, said: "It's a disgusting state, we can't let our children play outside when there is broken glass in the road.

"We pay £1,000 a year in council tax but we don't seem to get anything for it."

Thorney Park homes were the married quarters for personnel based at the former Wroughton air base and now many are owned by housing associations.

Michelle Stevenson, 36, a childminder, said: "We can't expect the council to be here all the time but I have never seen a lorry come round to sweep the gutters.

"The area around the bus stop is especially bad, even worse because it's the area where all of the kids get their school bus.

"There used to be a lot of vandalism but it's not as bad now, we're showing that we care about the area by cleaning it up ourselves."

Swindon Council has promised to inspect the area and has not ruled out providing regular cleaning patrols.

Denis Cole, the council's highways maintenance manager, said: "The council is happy to inspect Thorney Park and will place an order for the road to be swept if necessary.

"Once we are aware of any problems we can sort them out."