FOREST Homes residents are standing together to combat crime and anti-social behaviour on their estate.

Individuals who felt their needs were unheard formed the Forest South Residents Association to put their issues to the London and Quadrant Housing Association with a united front.

The residents have been meeting Forest Homes and Forest ward Cllr Farooq Qureshi for around two years and now hope to find greater recognition and respect as an official body.

The residents of Leyton Green Tower, Market Parade, the White House estate, Livingstone Court and the adjoining streets in Leyton have security, safety and cleanliness at the top of their agenda.

Leyton Green Tower resident Andrew Morris said the increase in security on the nearby Beaumont Estate over the last 18 months has caused crime to move over to the Forest South estates.

He said the group hopes to work with the Safer Neighbourhoods team and the council's community safety unit to ensure crime was kept under control.

Mr Morris said the residents' campaigns to close a crack house two years ago and eliminate noise nuisance took months of hard work by individual residents badgering Forest Homes and the council's noise team.

He told the Guardian: "When we met Forest Homes and Cllr Qureshi the problems would be discussed, but we would not see any substantial change.

"We all had the same issues - rising crime, anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance - which are difficult to deal with because the responsibility is divided between the police, the council and Forest Homes, so each organisation passes the blame.

"Forest Homes is very good at chasing up the rent, but doesn't seem to respond very well to other types of tenancy breaches, so with the residents working together to fight these issues we should be able to solve our problems as a group."

Mr Morris said the association was looking to regain control of the car park used by the public and improve security in White House Estate where the door entry system was broken and the glass in the door was repeatedly shattered.

Cllr Qureshi said: "I have worked with the residents for about two years, and they have dealt with nearly every imaginable problem.

"They are a great bunch of people who really care for the area. I am glad they are finally an official organisation and Forest Homes should recognise their needs more because these people are talking about securing the area, not just for their benefit, but for the whole community."

Richard Southall, housing manager of Forest Homes, said: "We look forward to hearing what the residents have to say and working with them on a number of important issues."

To contact the Forest South Residents Association email forestsouthra@googlemail.com or call 077985 31934.