EXCLUSIVE

TERRIFIED residents have begged police to take action on the trouble-torn Norfolk Grove estate in Church.

The community has been plagued by drug dealers, drunken children running wild, cars being damaged, graffiti and other problems.

Residents who say they are at their wits end, have slammed police for failing to stop the trouble.

This week the Observer was given access to exclusive camera footage taken on the estate showing a house, which was visited by 24 people within a four-hour period.

Stills from the footage, which shows callers waiting outside the property, can be seen above. Most visitors knocked then waited outside the house for the occupier to come to speak to them.

One householder said: "There is a constant stream of people coming and going. It's a nightmare."

Horrified residents living nearby claim people from the Meadoway and Milnshaw areas are drawn on to the estate to buy drugs and cause trouble.

Yesterday (Thurs) police confirmed they had carried out a drugs raid at a property on the estate and a man was being questioned.

A mother-of-two who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "We can't sleep at night in case a brick is thrown through our window or our car tyres are slashed.

"There are elderly people who are too scared to go out because of the verbal abuse and threatening behaviour. This used to be a good estate but now it's a hotspot for trouble.

"Police just haven't dealt with this estate and we've all had enough of calling 999 over the past few years."

"More just has to be done to make the estate safe for the families living here."

Residents also blame Hyndburn Homes for failing to deal with tenants who regularly break their tenancy agreement with their anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Terry Woods, from Accrington Police, said extra officers had been patrolling the area on a criminal damage operation, several offenders had been arrested and charged for anti-social behaviour and drugs offences and behaviour contracts served on problem neighbours.

Inspector Woods added: "Norfolk Grove and the surrounding area have problems that we are aware of and we have done a lot of work on the estate and will continue to do so. The majority of local people understand what we are doing and have given us positive feedback. The problems are issues for housing, cleansing and social services as well as for the police.

"If anyone has any individual concerns or issues they need to speak to community beat manager Lisa Evans, or if they want to speak anonymously should contact Crimestoppers on 0800555111."