RESIDENTS and businesses are calling for more police on the streets following a wrecking spree by drunken teenagers.

In the past two weeks several shops and offices have had their windows put through by youngsters.

Residents have also reported that hooded gangs have been congregating in wooded areas to drink alcohol, before taking to the streets and vandalising properties.

The situation prompted a record attendance figure at a recent police PACT meeting held at Earcroft Children's Centre, Monton Road.

Around 150 people crammed in to tell officers about some of the problems that they had been experiencing.

Speaking after the meeting, one man who has a business on Falcon Avenue but wished to remain anonymous said: "About £1,000 worth of windows have been smashed in the last two weeks.

"We get gangs hanging around and customers feel intimidated.

"The police are dedicated to sorting the problem out but there is just not enough of them to make a difference.

"We can't see a light at the end of the tunnel."

He added: "We need more CCTV in the area. There are 40 cameras across Blackburn but only four of these are in Darwen."

A pensioner, who lives near Darwen golf course, said: "There is a field behind us and now it is getting lighter teenagers are pitching tents in it and getting drunk.

"Last week they pulled my neighbour's new fence up and set fire to the whole thing.

"We need officers on the streets."

Insp Andrea Bradbury said: "The overall crime rates in the Lynwood and Birch Hall areas, which is where most of the residents at the meeting were from, has seen a significant decrease over the past two years.

"We are continuing to work hard to reduce the crime rate all over Darwen."