URGENT action is set to be taken on an “eyesore” care home repeatedly trashed by vandals.

The former Highfield House Care Home has become a target for vandalism since it closed in 2012.

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Police and bosses from Blackburn with Darwen Council are becoming increasingly concerned about its state.

Syringes, broken glass, empty boxes of medication and even old patient visit reports have been left inside the building which is being raided by youths regularly.

A meeting between police community support officer (PCSO) Ros McInulty, owner Surjit Dhillon and the council has now been set up this week so that immediate action can be taken.

PCSO McInulty said that the state of the building was “awful” and it cannot remain as it is.

She said: “Kids keep getting into the building and we need to find some sort of resolve. There is asbestos in there and syringes and personal items all over the floor, it is extremely unsafe.

“They are only getting in one way and I have managed to get a commitment out of Mr Dhillon that he will put up a metal board to fill the hole rather than a wooden one.

“It is an awful mess and it either needs to be demolished, sold or put to use.”

Mr Dhillon has put forward a number of planning applications for the site but all have been turned down by the council for being ‘inappropriate’.

Neighbours of the care home called for action two years ago after the building suffered an arson attack which caused dramatic scenes in Sudell Road as residents watched flames billowing out of the windows.

Mr Dhillon said he was aware of what was going on and that he would “destroy” the patient reports kept in a filing cabinet at the back of the building.

He said: “I have put forward lots of proposals but they have been turned down.

“I cannot do surveillance 24 hours a day and people should not be going inside, its trespassing. No one should have been going near the patient-visit reports but I will take them away and burn them next time I’m there.”

The Information Commissioners Office has said it is “looking into details” about whether they can take action against personal documents being left in the building, as these should be held secure by law.

Cllr Roy Davies, Sudell representative, said: “It is an awful eyesore and it is ruining the neighbourhood.”