Residents living on a Merseyside estate say they fear for their safety because of gangs torching houses and settings fires in the street.
Primrose Court in Huyton has been hit by a spate of crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years which has caused many people to move out of the area all together.
Rows of two and three-bedroomed homes now sit empty and abandoned with their windows boarded up.
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The ECHO first reported on the issues facing Primrose Court back in October last year.
This December, we decided to revisit the area to see how much has changed for the people who still live there more than 12 months on.
One man, who lives in the area, said anti-social behaviour has got worse on Primrose Court over the last few months.
He said gangs of teenagers and young people are targeting the derelict houses, lighting fires and hiding suspected stolen goods inside them.
The man agreed to speak to the ECHO but did not want to be named due to fears for his safety.
He said: "There's 10-20 of them coming from other places around and they are making a big mess in the area. They are burning the area, burning the street, setting fires in the entrance so no one can go out.
"When there's bigger rubbish like big sofas and furniture they set fire [to it] in the middle of the street so no one can come out and in."
The man said he's afraid to report these incidents to the police for fear of the repercussions it could have for him and his family.
In 2019, a house was put up for auction on Primrose Court with a starting price of just £1.
But every time someone new moves into the area, the man said they soon move out again in the space of a few months.
He added: "I want the area to be much better.
"We want the council to put something like lighting in the area and cameras.
"There's always fires in the area and that's the problem we are suffering from. They are setting fires in the middle of the street and sometimes even properties, they are burning them.
"The lighting will help because these people do things at night. If there is light in the area it will reduce the amount of crime."
Merseyside Police carried out a warrant at an address on Primrose Court on Monday, December 13, where a large amount of drugs and a stolen bike were seized.
Photos taken by the ECHO show piles of rubbish and upturned furniture wedged between the houses, many of which have their windows smashed or boarded up.
Some residents claim people are coming to the area to fly-tip and are hiding furniture in the gardens of the empty properties where it is out of view.
Another man, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, said crime on the estate is so bad it's not safe for his daughter to visit him.
He said: "I feel unsafe. There's a gang - they don't want to see this area getting better.
"All the time people are bringing their rubbish and they make fires. I can't describe it to be honest with you, it's looks like Beirut.
"I'm looking for a safe life, I'm not looking for trouble. Every day I'm going to work, I pay my bills.
"I remember one man moved in and he left after a couple of months because he wasn't safe here.
"They're nice houses but for some reason these people don't want to see this area getting better."
The man said he has contacted the council to ask them to install street lights in the area but no action has been taken.
In a statement sent to the ECHO in December 2020, Knowsley Council said: "Funding has been secured from the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership and will be used to tackle arson in the area through improved lighting and CCTV."
When asked for an update on this funding, a Knowsley Council spokesperson said: "Primrose Court consists of private owned dwellings, but we are working with the local community to improve the local area.
"Whilst we have been successful with a funding bid to the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, this is to install CCTV.
"In advance of CCTV being installed, further funding is needed to regenerate the area and we are continuing to work with our partners to explore potential funding sources.
"There has been a reduction in the number of anti-social behaviour and fly tipping incidents in the area over the last 12 months and any reports that have been received have been followed up and appropriate action taken.
"Merseyside Police continue to patrol the area and has conducted a number of search warrants which has resulted in the seizure of controlled drugs, cash and stolen property.
"Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour in the area should get in touch with Merseyside Police via 101, Crimestoppers or by messaging @MerPolCC.”
Merseyside Police were approached for comment but did not provide a response by time of publication.
