CONCERNED parents have claimed their children's lives are being put at risk after a housing association altered plans to install a main gate at the entrance to their 22-home complex.

Without any barrier in place, the mothers say their sons and daughters can easily 'escape' Catherine's Court, on Coningsby Street.

The matter came to a head when a two-year-old went walkabout alone, reaching Mr Chips on Commercial Road before being spotted.

"We all saw the original designs, which had a gate at the entrance to the homes clearly shown," explained mother-of-four Amanda Mellor. "But, without it, it's so easy for the children to escape into the middle of town. If a gate is not put in soon, then I fear the worst."

Another resident, Lynne Oldham, said it was very difficult for the children being cooped up at home with nowhere to play.

"We have to let them out in the communal yard, otherwise they'd be liked caged animals. But you only have to turn your back for one second and they are gone, and that's what happened when my Georgia ran down to Mr Chips last summer," she said.

Paul Sutton, director of development and technical services for South Shropshire Housing, said: "There was a gate on the original plans, but as has happened in other cases, we were concerned about who would be in charge of opening and closing it.

"We held a meeting with the residents association and explained that if they can set up a management committee to look after the gate, then a gate will be installed.

"What we did not want to create was a situation where lots of niggly issues were created by some people not closing the gate after using it. A management committee would help solve this potential problem."