BRAWLING vagrants are wrecking trade for shopkeepers in Lune Street as customers avoid the area for fear of intimidation.

Traders in the Preston street - which was once a desirable shopping area - say they are losing profits because local homeless folk spend the day drinking in the square outside their businesses.

According to shopkeepers the vagrants spend the day hurling abuse at passers-by and often fight among themselves.

Their brawls sometimes start on a monument created in the memory of the people who died fighting for civil rights during the general strike of 1842.

The vagrants are sleeping in makeshift homes in nearby shrubs.

Shop bosses like Graham Littler, a partner in George Banks Jewellers, whose premises overlook the historic square, say the situation is driving away customers.

He said: "People know that these homeless people hang around on the square drinking and that they are abusive.

"They also fight, which scares customers. I can understand why. Women especially don't like coming down here anymore and it is affecting our business."

He added: "They even stay here at night. We call the police and they move them on. But as soon as the police disappear, they return."

Steve McGoughan, of Preston's Fox Street homeless shelter, said they were aware of the problem, and added: "Some homeless people just want to sleep out under the stars and don't want to come here.

"We are aware of people who sleep there and know that the drinking during a day is a problem. We have a strict policy of no alcohol on the premises but there is nothing we can do to stop them drinking outside."

A spokesman for the police said they responded to any calls and dealt with situations individually.

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