PADIHAM residents today claimed the town centre was "as bad as Faliraki" - the Greek holiday spot - after revealing that drunken revellers swear, vomit and urinate in the street.

The complaints about the booze-fuelled antics of local pub-goers were made in five letters to the council opposing an application by the King's Arms for an entertainment licence.

A local councillor today admitted there were bound to be problems in any area where there were a number of pubs squeezed into a residential area.

But he joined police in insisting that the residents' claims were over the top.

If the application is granted by the Burnley Council licensing committee tonight, it will give the Mill Street pub permission to have music and dancing, but it will not change its opening times.

The pub is among four pubs and a wine bar all in the same area of the town, and some already have entertainment licences.

One resident claimed to be disturbed by loud music coming from the pubs and men and women "using the street as a public urinal".

The resident said: "I am also sick to death of cleaning up vomit, broken glass and bottles. This is a residential area, not the town centre.

"There are four pubs and a wine bar - it is like being in Faliraki holiday resort when all the pubs are opened in the evening."

Faliraki, on the Greek island of Rhodes, is popular with young British tourists whose drunken behaviour led police to launch a crackdown.

Greek officers visited Lancashire this summer as part of a project with the county's police to help them cut back on violence, lewdness and other drunken behaviour in the resort.

During their stay they visited Turf Moor last month, when Burnley played Millwall, to see how matches were policed following the success of Operation Fixture, Burnley police's attempt to stamp out football hooliganism in the town, which was launched last year.

Padiham ward councillor Len Starr said that while there were problems, Padiham was not as bad as the infamous Greek resort.

He added: "I think claiming it is like Faliraki is a bit of an exaggeration. However, there are bound to be problems in any area where there are a number of pubs squeezed into a residential area."

This was backed up by Padiham police sergeant Andy Carter. He said: "It is definitely nothing like Faliraki. Looking at the incidents over the last few months there is nothing that would cause concern."

He said community beat officers were on patrol in the centre of Padiham until 2am and plans to ban booze from the town's streets were well under way, having been approved by Burnley Council last week.

A pub watch scheme has also recently been launched and landlords are to be issued with radios so they can keep in constant contact with each other and the police to prevent trouble.

Geoff Houghton, who became the landlord of the King's Arms last Thursday, said he would do everything he could to prevent drinkers in his pub disturbing the peace of local residents.

He said: "So far we haven't had any trouble and I am planning on keeping it like that. It is in my interests to try and keep everybody happy."

Geoff added: "I have applied for an entertainment licence so that I can have karaoke and live bands

I have to be able to compete with other pubs."