RESIDENTS of a Selby housing estate believe a scheme inspired by Manchester's notorious Moss Side will allow their children to play in the streets in safety.

Flaxley Road Residents' Association wants to put locked gates on alleyways between White Street, Buller Street and Kitchener Street, to which only residents would have keys.

The gates could then be locked at times decided through consultation with residents and traders, and would hopefully prevent nuisance crime in the area.

The idea was thought up by Sue James, chairwoman of the residents' association, while she was watched breakfast television one day.

"There was a feature about a scheme on Moss Side where the residents put up gates and the difference it has made is unbelievable," she told the Evening Press.

"Flaxley Road is nothing like as bad as Moss Side, but it does have problems. So many people use the alley-ways as a thoroughfare."

Mrs James believes that installing the gates across the secluded alley-ways would cut down on persistent problems such as vandalism, under-age drinking and fly-tipping.

"The alleys are just dirty and disgusting," she said.

"We need a safe environment for our children to play outside. You often do not know what goes on behind your fence at night."

More than 300 homes in York are due to be made safer with a similar initiative to lock-off 11 crime-ridden alleys.

Residents in Foxwood have used the Countryside Act to remove highway rights, but Flaxley Road may be able to appeal for "high crime area" designation, a part of some recent legislation introduced to fast-track the process.

Installation of the gates would cost about £3,000 and the residents' association is applying to Selby District Council's crime prevention budget for funding.

Julia Stack, policy officer for Selby District Community Safety Partnership, said she was fully in support of the scheme, but added that it was still early days.

"At the moment it is just a proposal. There may be implications in terms of by-laws and access that need addressing.

"We really welcome the community coming forward with ideas about crime prevention. This is what the partnership is all about and it makes our job a lot easier."

Local councillor Steve Shaw-Wright is strongly in favour of the plan and is hopeful that the council will back it.

"The idea is really good and people support it."

Updated: 14:41 Thursday, June 12, 2003