LEIGH'S only multi-storey car park is plagued by vandals.

The Bengal Street car park, opened in October 1999, is now a major concern for the Leigh Town Centre Management Group following complaints about drug users, drunks and hooligans by traders and residents in the Railway Road area.

Cllr Brian Jarvis, who officially opened the building, said metal objects and bricks are regularly dropped from the top floor, wiring has been ripped out, discarded drug syringe needles and alcohol bottles found. But he says increased security has not worked.

A screen has been erected round the top of the building to prevent missiles being thrown over and the 8ft high perimeter fence is regularly breached despite rails being welded on.

He said: "We have tried everything, security patrols, locking the park at night, but until the police apprehend the people concerned it looks like it will still go on.

"A suggestion has been made that it should be demolished, but then that would mean every bus stop and every building that is vandalised should be flattened. I get angry that in today's society that is the ultimate response."

A council plan of action has been agreed: to resite the pay and display machine and car park sign to stop people climbing up, to spot weld all the posts, to meet with the police to target offenders, for more checks, to utilise CCTV, check locking gates, for more intensive surveillance and intelligence passed to police, the resiting of a car park attendant, to collect CCTV evidence and ensure regular cleaning to remove drug needles.