LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn today heard from Lancashire residents with concerns about escalating crime.

Mr Corbyn attended a meeting at St Ambrose Church Hall in Leyland where he heard from residents with concerns about the crime rate.

About 25 people attended and raised issues about drug dealing and a lack of police presence in the area.

Mr Corbyn said: “The overall issue is the budget has been massively cut by central Government so the number of police officers has gone down.”

Resident Marguerite Ralphs said: “I am very, very concerned about drug dealing that’s openly going on in many districts of Leyland.

“It’s never challenged, they know there’s nobody to chastise them or bring them to book.”

Mr Corbyn said: “We have to invest as a society far more in young people in youth centres and youth workers.”

Police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who attended the meeting with Mr Corbyn, said: “The police are under huge added pressure because the visibility they used to be able to provide, now they can’t.”

On his way to Leyland Mr Corbyn stopped off for a curry with local MP Kate Hollern at Blackburn’s East Z East restaurant.

Mr Grunshaw said officers were also having to deal with mental health issues because of cuts in other services.