TEENAGE yobs who have turned a shopping centre into a night time no-go zone could be forced out by plans to close the area at night.

Police and councillors have received dozens of complaints about young people hanging about and drinking in the Valley Centre, Rawtenstall, after dark.

Now the amount of anti-social behaviour, crime and vandalism in the shopping centre has prompted plans to shut the public right of way through the centre at nightime by building gates or doors to make it secure after closing time.

Police said this would bring the centre into line with those in Accrington, Nelson and Bury.

And it would make it easier for the police and centre-owners to eject and ban the yobs responsible for anti-social behaviour because the area would be private rather than public.

Councillor James Grogan, chairman of Rossendale Borough Council's engineering and planning committee, said: "People are frightened to walk through the centre at night because of people hanging about drinking and all sorts. It is very intimidating for young children and old people especially. You only have to walk through there in the morning and it is full of empty beer cans and bottles.

"The police are backing the nightime closure. It is a shame, but all big shopping centres are closed off at night now, and I think on Monday all the councillors will support this plan." Police have already been in discussion with the centre owners and traders who fully support the plans.

David Laithwaite, owner of Carousel newsagents, said: "I think it is excellent news. We have people playing football against the shop windows, and people hanging about at night.

"Shutting the centre at night was mentioned a few years ago, but nothing happened. Now it looks like something is actually on the cards. I haven't had many problems with security, except in the early years, but I've got shutters on my shop windows now.

"The only problem with closing the centre at night would be access for shopkeepers to their stores out of hours and access to the Astoria ballroom, but I'm sure something could be sorted out."

Mrs Anne Amison, owner of the Card Drop Inn, said: "I think it is a good idea to shut the centre at night. We aren't here at night so we don't see what goes on, but we have got shutters at the windows.

"If the police want the centre shutting at night they must see something going on that they don't like."

Although a private company, the Valley Centre Limited, owns the centre, the route through it is a public right of way.

If the plans went ahead the council would have to seek a court order stopping public rights of way on the basis that they are unnecessary.