RESIDENTS and school teachers in Darwen have won their battle to stop gambling machines being introduced at the town's motorway services.

Entertainment company Namco had applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council for permission to install "amusements with prizes" at the M65's Junction 4 services site.

But members of the council's licensing committee backed residents -- and teachers at nearby Darwen Vale High School -- who objected to the plans.

People who live close to the site in Redvers Road told the meeting that gangs of youths use the services and would be drawn to an arcade with gambling machines.

After the meeting Linda Chelton, of Redvers Road, said: "I wasn't convinced by Namco's arguments and there is already a problem with juvenile nuisance at the site which would be compounded by putting gambling machines in."

The application came months after an initial approach to the council was made by Namco. David Lucas, a solicitor acting on behalf of the company, said that application was withdrawn so that concerns could be addressed.

Mr Lucas told the meeting that Namco was a company which took its responsibilities seriously and that similar arcades in other parts of the country had not encountered any problems.

Ward councillors were consulted but none objected to the plans. Residents, however, sent letters of objection and a petition with 63 signatures to Blackburn with Darwen's licensing department.

One of the letters claimed an arcade next to a McDonald's restaurant, which is close to the site, would attract teenagers and children.

The letter also questioned whether staff in the services complex would be able to police the area adequately and keep youngsters out.

Staff at Darwen Vale High School also wrote to the council's environmental health manager. A letter from the school claimed its grounds were only 400 yards from the complex and an arcade would, "prove an attraction for pupils from this school and have a significant effect on punctuality and attendance."

The letter said: "It is known that gaming facilities and other amusement games are addictive. Pupils are likely to visit the site, start to play and be reluctant to leave in time to arrive at early morning registration, or return to school after lunch breaks.

"In many cases, when pupils for a variety of reasons are late in arriving or returning to school, they decide to truant for all or part of the day."

Coun Edward Harrison told the meeting: "People living nearby have a right to a quality of life that this would interrupt."