RESIDENTS on Lancaster's Marsh estate are revolting after a teenage single mum and her baby were evicted this week.

Neighbours and friends came out in support of Christy Riding yesterday (Wednesday) as bailiffs descended on the 19-year-old's Laburnum Grove home.

The angry residents slammed Lancaster City Council, claiming its action was tearing a well-liked young mum away from the close community where she has settled.

The estate's tenants and residents association chairman Tom Byrne also hit out, saying he would resign over the issue.

Christy has lived on Laburnum Grove since her son Damian was born nine months ago. She told the Citizen she had been homeless until a friend, the property's tenant, offered her a roof.

He has since moved out but Christy stayed on to be close to family, friends and a toddler group she uses.

A council spokesman said it obtained a court order to evict the tenant after he let Christy move in without authorization at a time of unprecedented demand' for council housing from families and homeless people on a waiting list.

Suitable properties were scarce and had to go to people with greatest needs'.

"It would be totally wrong to grant this tenancy to an unauthorised occupant ahead of families with greater and longer standing need," she said.

But Christy says she can't understand why she has to move as she believes the council is trying to find her another property.

"I don't see why they couldn't have left me here and put someone else in the other house. It's atrocious."

Neighbour Dawn Hirst says: "They are evicting someone who fits in. She is well estab-lished on the estate everyone here likes her."

Liz Doherty says it was splitting the community up', and going against the council claim that it wants to build strong links.

Association chairman Tom Byrne stormed: "I am going to resign over this. Once the eviction was served Christy said she was prepared to take over the rent. The community is close-knit and she is well accepted by local residents. The council hasn't listened to any of this.

"I know there are other people on the waiting list but they haven't made a home in this house, whereas she has. The council doesn't seem to care what happens on the Marsh. There's a lot of anger about."

June 5, 2003 07:30