CCTV should be installed at Accrington station to deter drug dealers and vandals, according to transport police.

Travellers have had to cope with drug dealers apparently using the giant eco-shelter for selling the likes of cannabis and cocaine, transport bosses have been told.

Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson has now backed police calls for security cameras at the interchange. which was transformed into an eco-station following a £2million redevelopment in 2010.

Cllr Parkinson said: "There has been a lot of investment in the station and any anti-social behaviour which affects our public transport infrastructure is a concern for the travelling public.

"We don't want people to be deterred from using the station by this nuisance so hopefully there are funding sources available to Northern and Network Rail so this situation can be addressed."

In a report to the central area community rail partnerships, transport police covering East Lancashire highlighted "ongoing anti-social behaviour" at Accrington station.

The report, on behalf of the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership, said: "The eco-shelter has been a target for repeated vandalism and has been used for 'out-of-sight' drinking and now drug abuse and drug sales.

"There is no CCTV on the platforms and no lighting in the shelter, which has allowed this anti-social behaviour to continue and develop to the detriment of fare-paying passengers.

"It is hoped that by working with our partners that this shelter can be removed and replaced with a vandal-proof shelter."

A spokesman for Northern said: "We take, very seriously, the concerns of our customers and stakeholders and are absolutely committed to making our stations as safe as possible.

"We are working with British Transport Police and Lancashire Police to tackle many of the issues raised and are in the middle of a multi-million pound station improvement scheme which will see the introduction of improved facilities, including enhanced lighting and CCTV coverage."

The latest passenger numbers for Accrington have topped 460,000 a year, which is more than twice the number recorded 20 years ago.