CHILDREN believed to be as young as nine are running riot in a Blackburn street.

Residents in the Infirmary area of Blackburn have blamed the problems on private landlords allowing their tenants to get out of control without facing any consequences, as they would in housing association properties.

They say groups of young people, including children under ten, are regularly out in Infirmary Street playing music and shouting until 3 or 4am. They have also reported sightings of cars they believe to be involved in drugs sales.

Brian Booth, vice chairman of Ivy Street Community Association, said: "We called the police four times at the weekend about young people shouting and screaming on Infirmary Street. Some were little more than babes in arms.

"These are very young children out unsupervised at 3am and we believe there are drug dealers about.

"I'm going to raise this issue with the council. I hope they take steps to deal with private landlords as part of the housing improvements they talk about."

Blackburn with Darwen ward Councillor Florence Oldfield said: "We are doing our best to find a solution and I've asked the police to go down to Infirmary Street. We are very worried about the children, especially as there have been reports of drug dealing.

"I don't know whether the youngsters in question are accommodated by private landlords but the councillors have been campaigning to get a register, though we've not got anywhere yet."

Police have mounted a summertime operation to patrol schools and other juvenile nuisance hotspots.

Police Community Support Officer Nigel Brooke, who regularly patrols the Infirmary area, said: "We have juvenile nuisance problems everywhere, especially at this time of year, and I've had a message from a councillor about the Infirmary area.

"It's very annoying for people but many of the reports aren't criminal activities. It's unsociable behaviour which we have to deal with in the best way we can."

Inspector Ian McCann added: "We have plans to deal with build-ups of youths, which is a result of the good weather. We urge people to call us with information if they have problems. We have no evidence that very young children are out on the streets, but if they are found then we'd take positive steps and talk to parents."