POLICE patrols have been stepped up in Haslingden town centre after vandals targeted a memorial garden.

Bus shelters near Greenfield Memorial Gardens, in Ryefield Avenue, have been damaged by youngsters, while there have also been problems reported on the nearby bowling green.

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Councillors said the lack of a police presence in the town makes it ‘impossible to enforce the law’.

The former Haslingden Police Station, which was in Manchester Road, was closed in 2011 and is no longer on the market having been up for sale at auction in February.

Cllr Annabel Shipley, who represents the Conservatives in the Greenfield ward, said she would raise the matter during her ward’s next Police and Communities Together (Pact) meeting.

She said: “We know that anti-social behaviour has been a problem in the town centre for quite some time.

“One of the main congregation areas used to be near the back of the library but we seem to have got on top of that.

“Unfortunately it seems to be spreading and it is quite concerning.

“The area around the bowling club is home to a lot of elderly residents and it’s not right that they are intimidated.

“There is practically no visible police presence in the town centre so it’s no wonder this problem has started to raise its head again.

“It makes it impossible to enforce the law.

“I think it is a green light for people to indulge in criminal behaviour.”

Problems have also been reported near the disused Haslingden Swimming Pool, in East Bank Avenue.

A spokesman for Lancashire police confirmed the force was aware of the issues and said: “We have been experiencing problems in the Haslingden area with youths behaving in an anti-social manner in the town centre and around Greenfield Memorial Gardens.

“Bus shelters have been damaged, youths have been playing football on the bowling green and causing problems at the bowling hut.

“And other anti-social behaviour issues have been reported in the area.

“Patrols are in the area this evening and some youths have been identified already and spoken to regarding behaviour.”

Anyone with information about the anti-social behaviour should call police on 101.