A road plagued by ‘doggers’ and fly-tippers has finally been gated off after a 12-year campaign.

The King’s Highway from Huncoat to Rising Bridge made headlines in 2006 after reports it was a popular spot for people to have sex in cars while others watched. And nearby residents have long been complaining about problems with fly-tipping, mini-motos and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Dave Parkins led the campaign to get gates put on the road, which comes off the roundabout on Burnley Road to the east of the Huncoat junction of the A56. He said: "It’s taken me 12 years to get these gates on. There’s been a lot of people going up King’s Highway, dogging, people going up with women in their cars, scramble bikes and fly-tipping.

"I’m really glad it’s finally happened. I’m happy for the residents. I’d like to thank them for their support. It shows what can be done when you work as a community."

Bulldozer driver Chris Clayton, 63, who lives on Windy Harbour Farm on King’s Highway said: "We’ve had that much trouble up there with drugs, sex, motorbikes, fly-tipping, you name it. It’s not before time. It’s been going on up there for 20 years. It’s not the kind of thing you want going on outside your home. "These gates will put a stop to 90 per cent of the bother. There’s been a definite difference since they put the gates up."

The work was funded by Ibstocks Brick Ltd, the owners of Rakehead Quarry, which lies at the end of the King’s Highway.

Alan McLaughlin, of Ibstocks said: "We understand the issues of people going up there and we knew if we could get the gates on it would have a big effect. We’d like to thank Dave Parkins for being the driving force behind the project, he spent a great deal of time and effort getting it all sorted."