A CONTROVERSIAL play area in Blackburn could be removed after months of being plagued by anti social behaviour.

Plans have been drawn up to remove the Bridgewater Drive play area after it attracted dozens of complaints.

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Nearby residents said the playground was regularly attracting groups of teens, who play loud music, shout and swear, drink alcohol, take drugs, while causing damage to the play equipment and intimidating anyone who is passing.

Police said they are aware of the area's problems and said regularly being called out to split up groups of youths at the park.

Resident Rafia Sheikh, 50, said: "The behaviour that goes on there is disgraceful and it needs to stop.

"There are groups of people hanging about there at all times of the night, playing music, shouting and not using the playground for its correct use.

"It's a play area that doesn't belong here.

"None of the residents wanted it and we are stuck with dealing with the problems and furthermore we have to pay £150 a year for its upkeep.

"It's been an issue for several months now and it needs to end.

"The police are called out on a regular basis to deal with people and it should not be like this."

Neighbour and mum-of-four, Fehmida Khan, said: "None of the children around here would go near it and I wouldn't want my children to go there if they were younger.

"You never see people from this estate on the playground it's always people from somewhere else, either a different street or from further away.

"They make a lot of noise and its disruptive.

"It would really help if the council moved it away as the problems would hopefully go away too."

An application to remove the play area has now been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council for consideration.

Cllr Pat McFall, who represents the area on the borough council, said: "It has been an issue in the area for some time now.

"I have received many complaints off residents saying that there is large amounts of anti social behaviour going on there.

"We have listened to them and are trying to get it removed.

"The problems have been going on for a while.

"It's an eyesore now and it needs to be changed.

"I would like it to return to grass and have nothing built on it."

Sgt John Sergeant said: "It is an area that has caused us some concern.

"We do send out regular patrols down to that area and it is something that we have got our eye on and we can appreciate why residents have their concerns about it.

"We are normally called out mainly for music nuisance and youths gathering there at unsocial hours."