Business owners said drug addicts scoring and injecting drugs in a town centre are putting off potential customers and visitors

A businessman in Bolton Road, Darwen said the drug problem has got so bad he fears the 'town is being dragged down'.

Among the complaints, staff at businesses close to Darwen town centre said they and their customers had seen drug deals, addicts injecting drugs and groups loitering in the grounds of the former Belgrave Chapel in Belgrave Road.

The shop owner, who did not wish to be named, said: "There are needles on the floor and all sorts of comings and goings.

"It's bad for business, the addicts are on street corners and behind buildings including Belgrave Chapel.

"There are children round here, it's just not right.

"A lot of the other business owners said they are fed up of it to, the town is being dragged down."

Community leaders said they were aware of the problems drugs were causing in the town and were working with local schools to educate young people about the dangers.

Police said they were also aware of the problem and doing everything they could to tackle it.

The main area of concern is the grounds of Belgrave Chapel, a listed building that has been converted into 21 flats.

However the chapel owner Jamie Carter said there was no issue with drugs within the building.

The shop owner added: "There are a lot of suspicious comings and going in the chapel grounds and a lot of scruffy people hanging around.

"It's been going on for the last nine to12 months but nothing seems to be done about it.

"They're always on the car park and huddled around the back, it's really downgrading the place."

In recent months police have been dealing with a influx of drug dealers targeting Darwen from Liverpool.

One Bolton Road worker said: "I've heard there are a lot of drugs coming in from Liverpool and Manchester and flooding the town.

"We're seeing people around town that we've never seen in our lives, you know they're low lives giving out drugs.

"The residents and the business owners in and around the area are fed up of it and something must now be done."

A takeaway employee said: "I've seen people taking drugs around here.

"The police have been a lot but they can't catch them because they always run off.

"It's such a common thing, every third person takes drugs in Darwen.

"Their are a lot of crazy people in this town."

Mr Carter said: "We have owned Belgrave Chapel for 10 years, and although we get the occasional problem with drugs in the area we've never had a problem in the building.

"All 21 flats are occupied and 11 or 12 tenants have been with us for five or six years.

"Darwen has its issues with drugs but I have not had any experience with the Belgrave area being targeted.

"If there were issues in my building in terms of antisocial behaviour it has been with people who have been invited round by tennants.

"We have had issues with fly-tipping but we are working hand in hand with the council to tackle it."

Sgt Shaun Pearson, head of Darwen's neighbourhood policing team, said: "The Belgrave Chappel area is known to police.

"We have had reports of suspected drugs misuse taking place in the vicinity of the chapel.

"There are narrow streets leading to the borough roads that are good places for people to scurry which might explain the areas popularity.

"We have spoken with the local businesses to find out what is going on and what they have seen.

"We have also had a meeting with the owners of the building around security and ensuring that only occupants can get in.

"We are aware of pockets of drug misuse in Darwen and we are trying to tackle it.

"Although we have officers working on it we rely on members of the public to report any issues."

Sunnyhurst ward Cllr Dave Smith said he has received complaints from Belgrave Chapel residents about the grounds.

He said: "I have had complaints about the appearance of the grounds and flytipping.

"It's difficult to keep track of who is coming and going because there is no on site supervision so there's no day to day monitoring."

Cllr Roy Davies, Darwen mayor, said: “Drugs are pretty prevalent in a lot of places in Darwen.

“When I go out litter picking and canvassing you can smell cannabis being smoked all over the place.

“Darwen Town Council is trying its best to tackle the problem with drugs.

“This year we teamed up with Lloyds Trust to send the Life Education bus into schools in Darwen to provide children with an education around the dangers of drugs.”

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101.