A ST ANNES action group is making waves in the war against drugs, crime and the general degeneration of the town centre and adjoining streets.

St David's Community Action Group was formed last November to give the residents and shop-owners who live on St David's Road South a serious voice on community issues.

Since then interest in the group has snowballed and locals from other areas across the town are reporting similar problems.

Already the group has more than 100 members and has instigated council and police action on St David's Road South after residents reported it was becoming drug-ridden.

Assistant chairman David Hartley, who lives and works at D & P Car Parts on the road, said: "It had always been our dream to run our own business. We had previously lived near Blackpool centre but when we moved to St Annes in June last year it really opened our eyes.

"The day we moved in there were druggies on the doorstep and the house next to us turned out to be a multiple occupancy residence with people coming and going at all hours and causing a general nuisance.

"I have 18-month-old twins and a five-year-old and none of us got much sleep with all the traffic next door. The five-year-old is also now showing symptoms of distress -- which I feel has been brought on by all the problems we have faced here.

"We just want to make the area a safer and more pleasant place to live."

Mr Hartley said that since the action group had formed things had got a lot better. " After we complained to the council about litter from nearby takeaways the area is now cleaned roughly every three days and is looking a lot better. The landlord next door is also working with us and so are the police, Fylde MP Michael Jack and councillors.

"We are currently appealing for funds in any way possible to help us get better street lighting for the elderly and perhaps put towards some CCTV cameras on the road. If we manage to get some financial help then the council will have to help out also."

Karen Thompson, owner of Fylde Fabrics and Bridal Wear on St David's Road South said: "Over the last few years the area has taken a general down-turn and we are trying to turn that back around with the group.

"I have seen small changes that are encouraging since the forming of the group, such as there aren't as many undesirables hanging around, there are more police walking the area and less litter."

Kath Higginbotham, who owns KD Furnishings with her husband David, commented: "The area has cleaned up a bit lately and some of the nuisance DSS people have moved out. The council and police are with us all the way which is very helpful and we are quite happy with the progress we are making at present."

If you would like to find out more about the action group or would like to join, visit their website at www.stdavidsroad.co.uk.