YOUNG arsonists and some of the worst teenage tearaways in the country were dumped in a Rossendale village without warning, councillors have been told.

Care workers behind the New Beginnings home in Waterfoot failed to inform police, social services or council bosses that they were moving problem children into Brighton House, in Millar Barn Lane, a meeting of Rossendale’s development control committee was told.

Councillors have now called on the Government to introduce a change in the law requiring that care home operators should inform local authorities when similar new ventures are opened in towns and villages.

The committee unanimously refused planning permission for a change of use for the children’s home, which was a former old people’s home.

The meeting was told that as a result of the children’s home opening in the village it was hit by an unprecedented crime wave, with residents assaulted, shopkeepers initimidated and property dama-ged, listed among more than 120 incidents in seven months.

Chief Insp Jeff Brown, Rossendale’s most senior police officer, spoke against the development after being inundated with complaints regarding unruly youths who lived at the home.

He said: “We have not received any communication about the residents who are going in there.

"And we are talking about young people with serious emotional, behav-ioural and criminal problems.

“There are people there who have attempted arson and people with serious criminal histories.”

Ch Insp Brown said one resident had been arrested 11 times since November, and another detained on 16 occasions since July..

Coun Jim Pilling, ward councillor, also told the meeting: “Since the home opened, the number of incidents responded to by police and the fire service has rocketed.

"It is affecting people’s quality of life.”

The home’s officials have previously claimed they had not received any complaints about the operation.

No-one from New Beginnings attended the meeting, and no-one has been available for comment.

The firm does have the right to appeal the decision.