RESIDENTS angered by unruly teenagers, drug dealers and bad tenants packed into a public meeting to protest.

The meeting at Byron Road Social Centre, Colne was attended by Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, police chiefs, councillors and council officers as well as members of other community organisations.

The meeting was called by Horsfield Community Association whose secretary, Elsie Dawson, said: "Local people are fed up with problems caused by unruly children, drug dealers, drug addicts, bad tenants and other problems including traffic and parking.

"The residents of Horsfield are incensed and feel they have been ignored and come second to others in Pendle.

"The hall was full with some people standing at the back.

"The main concern is the activities of a group of about 30 youngsters, mainly young teenagers who make life a misery for local people and especially the elderly in the Ellesmere Avenue area.

"They use ginnels as toilets, make a lot of noise, bang on windows and the like. A hard core of them seem to have come over from the North Valley area to join with our own yobbos.

"Some of the old people are absolutely terrified and it should not be like that."

She added: "Police assured us they were aware of the problem and that they had got it in hand. They are considering carrying out an operation similar to the one they had in the North Valley Road area."

Residents told police they were frightened that the youngsters would be the next to become involved in the drugs scene, another problem in the area.

Mrs Dawson said police had also assured the meeting they were aware of the problem and asked for any information about nuisance behaviour or drugs to be passed on to them.

She added: "It was a worthwhile meeting and now at least no one can say they are unaware that we are concerned about problems in our area.

"The police, council and MP all promised to take matters in hand and now we shall have to wait and see what happens."