CCTV cameras should be installed to tackle growing crime in an area of Darwen, a councillor has said.

Cllr Roy Davies is calling for surveillance cameras to be set up around Olive Lane play park as a deterrent for teenagers who have been causing damage to the park’s facilities.

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Numerous incidents and damage have been reported to police and the council with the final straw being repeated damage to the swings which led to them being taken out for several months.

One swing was replaced by Blackburn with Darwen Council, but Cllr Davies said this took a long time to sort and money is running out to pay for more repairs.

The playground flooring has also been ripped up by youths on several occasions costing the council hundreds of pounds to repair.

A camera was put up at the park a few months ago on a lamppost but it was vandalised ‘almost instantly’, Cllr Davies said.

He said more thought needs to be had about the most appropriate places for the CCTV cameras.

He said: “In the Sudell ward there seems to be an attitude where people are just accepting that vandalism happens, and it’s wrong.

“We’re getting more crime than you can throw a stick at.

“I’m not saying that cameras would be the be all and end all but they would surely start to help.

“We’ve had swings vandalised at the parks, see-saws wrecked, the cost of the floor has run into thousands and the council has to start taking responsibility for what is happening in this ward.

“I think if we can get some cameras up on the taller lights where they can’t have stuff thrown at them like they did instantly before that will discourage people from violence and vandalism.

“I also think they need to be set up at Lord Street Nursery and St James’ Primary School.”

The calls for for CCTV cameras comes after two teenagers were assaulted with hockey sticks in the skate park just off Olive Lane.

A 15-year-old suffered injuries to his mouth and damage to his teeth while a 14-year-old was treated in hospital for a fractured skull, head wound and broken arm.

Cllr Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s environment boss, said: “It is disgusting that this play area has been targeted again in a mindless act of vandalism. People who behave like this are despicable and spoil things for everyone else.

“We will look into replacing any damaged equipment and cameras but we are unfortunately constrained by budgets.”