POLICE have pledged to monitor activities at a Darwen park after residents claimed it was being used by drug dealers.

The main entrance to Bold Venture Park has already been opened up to deter groups of youths from taking part in anti-social behaviour and more changes are planned to prevent criminals targeting the area.

Darwen police staged a special operation around the park last month and have said they will continue to target the area in response to residents' concerns.

They have also appealed to residents to pass on any information they have about criminal activity in or around the park.

British Telecom has said it will remove a phone box on the corner of Borough Road and Belgrave Road which is continually vandalised, and the Friends of Bold Venture Park group is planning further improvements to the park environment.

Sgt Ann Scott, of Darwen Police, said: "There has been information about youths dealing drugs around the park entrance.

"We set up an operation but there wasn't a great deal of evidence of that sort of activity. Now we will be monitoring the situation and would appeal to residents who see anything or have any information to get in touch."

Friends' group secretary Julie Manton said: "The issue of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the park is mentioned at every meeting, but I think there's a general feeling that it's getting more secure and certainly anything going on is more obvious now it's more open.

"I definitely welcome the fact that the police will be keeping an eye on the situation. They seem quite willing to do things like this where necessary.

"I think the warmer evenings in summer will be the test for whether it gets better.

"The phone box being removed will be a good thing, as there were often suspicious incoming calls."