A HAVEN for crack addicts which has made neighbours' lives a misery has been closed down following a police swoop.

Officers boarded up the flat in Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn, after a district judge agreed to close the known drugs den and kick out its tenant, Chirag Patel.

They went straight from court to the address and boarded it up yesterday afternoon.

It is the first time police have used a closure order in Blackburn and officers said they would continue to use the law to rid East Lancashire of its drugs menace.

Making an order that nobody sets foot in the premises for three months, District Judge Peter Ward said he was in no doubt it had become a centre for drug users.

He added: "It is quite clear that the regular use of drugs went on in the premises and it caused considerable problems for the other residents living in that block.

"Anyone who breaches this order faces imprisonment or fines."

He warned Mr Patel, 41, a self-confessed heroin user, he had until 9pm yesterday to clear his belongings.

After the case, at Blackburn magistrates, Mr Patel, who has since found a new home in the town, said it had become a haven for addicts. "It's been two years since I used drugs. What the police have done is harassment," he added.

But PC Iain Czapowski, of Blackburn Police who oversaw the investigation, said up to a dozen people a day were using the flat to take drugs and the closure should be a warning.

He said: "As a community officer for the area I received a lot of information concerning the tenant's activities at the address. On a number of occasions we found traces of Class A drugs such as crack cocaine and drug-taking equipment, such as syringes and foil.

"Such evidence was enough under the new powers to apply to have the address closed. Such behaviour will not be tolerated and proves that by working with the community we can do something about it."

The landlord of the property, who was not in court, will be encouraged to find a more suitable tenant.

Jubilant residents today spoke of their joy at the closure.

Edna Diggle, 72, who lives in a nearby flat, said: "I'm glad he's gone, his flat was definitely being used for drugs. People would throw stones at his window so he would come and let them in.

"They were so noisy and sometimes here until 3am. It's a job well done by the police."

Another resident said: "I am most relieved for my five year-old son, it means he is not going to come into contact with drug addicts. I saw drug use on his landing and found a plastic bottle with a pipe in and some foil on the courtyard below."

Inspector Claire Holbrook, based at Blackburn, urged the public to help ensure more closures. "If drug dealing in the area is causing them concern we will ensure that action is taken."