CUSTOMERS at a private members' club are being plagued by drunken youths hurling abuse at them and throwing missiles at their building.

At a meeting of the Oswaldtwistle Area Council Maurice Haworth, president of The Straits club, complained to police that youngsters were hanging around outside the club and were being abusive to people as they made their way there.

Mr Haworth said: "Young people are congregating on the banks of Tinker Brook and throwing bottles and eggs at the club.

"People coming to the club are being abused by young people congregating at the old fire station.

"We are trying to get more people to come to the club, but they are being abused and it is putting them off."

Speaking after the meeting club secretary Steve Parkinson confirmed that the youths were deterring customers.

He said: "Last week we had three young girls throwing things on the cars, the week before that some youngsters were throwing eggs and mud at the club. We have also had wing mirrors kicked off cars in the car park recently.

"We have given up calling the police because this kind of nuisance is classed as low priority and by the time they get here the trouble is normally over.

"It is really putting people off coming here. Some of our members say they are frightened to come down on the nights."

Sgt Bob Eaton, speaking at the meeting, said: "We are aware of the situation down there, particularly round the old fire station. We have had reports of people getting up in the old fire station tower and throwing things down at people.

"We have been there, we have taken the alcohol off them, taken them home and we have also made arrests in that area."