A DRUGS den which was visited by up to 60 people a day has been closed after police acted on complaints from neighbours.

The closure notice put on 6 Hilton Road, Darwen, will run for three months, during which time the house will be sealed.

The two occupiers will also be evicted under the Anti Social Behaviour Closure Order, granted by Blackburn magistrates.

And tenant Bernand Almond will only be allowed to make one visit to the house to recover his property, accompanied by a police officer.

After the case, police said continuous complaints from residents about drug dealing prompted them to execute a drugs warrant on April 2. Subsequently a 59-year-old man was arrested and cautioned for possession of heroin.

They said the closure order was sought after residents continued to report suspicions of drug dealing reporting visits from up to 60 people between 7.30am to 11pm each day.

Residents said a pleasant area had been turned into a no-go zone.

One elderly grandmother said: "It used to be a lovely area. I don't like my grandkids coming up with this going on."

Another resident said: "It is getting to the point where people are not leaving their homes to sit outside because of this."

Another said parents and children had been deterred from using nearby Ashton Park: "A lot of children have, in the past, used Ashton Park play grounds.

"I have noticed a marked decline in the last few months of mothers and children using the area."

Magistrates made the order after hearing that the house was used for taking heroin and that the drug was supplied from the property.

On May 23 a man approached the house and asked for two bags of heroin and on the same day police recovered pieces of burnt foil containing a brown residue believed to be heroin, the court was told.

The magistrates said the premises were associated with disorder and serious nuisance to the public.

They said examples included a report by someone living in the house on May 22 that men in balaclavas were trying to break down his door. When the police arrived the men had gone and the residents refused to co-operate.

The magistrates said local residents felt threatened by people who stayed at the house and by people who came onto the estate looking for drugs.

They said they were especially concerned by the proximity of the property to a children's playground.

Speaking after the order was granted PC Phil Hambley said: "We are extremely grateful to the local community for bringing this to our attention and I hope people are reassured that we have listened to their concerns and acted on the complaints they have made.

It is the sixth closure order to be granted in East Lancashire including one other in Darwen, two in Accrington and two in Blackburn previously.

The closure order means it will be an offence under Section 4 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act to remain in or enter the premises.

Anyone with any information about drug dealing or activity is urged to contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.