POLICE are delivering letters to residents in a drug-plagued area urging them to help drive dealers from their streets.

The written appeal is due to be hand-delivered to 800 homes in the Johnston Street area of Blackburn on Thursday after undercover observations revealed some dealers were openly selling drugs on the streets.

Residents will be given a pre-paid envelope so they can send officers information on drug dealing and other criminal activity in the area.

The letter drop follows on from a similar scheme on a Chorley estate and may be extended to other parts of East Lancashire if it is successful.

The letters, from Sgt Debbie Howard at Blackburn Police station, underline the police's determination to tackle drug dealing but asks for the public's help.

Sgt Howard said: "We often find that people are reluctant to come forward and give us information because they don't know how or they don't realise they don't have to give their name.

"This letter is a way of telling them how they can help. There are also other problems in the area, such as graffiti, which we their help in tackling as well."

People passing on information will not be contacted by police unless they ask to speak to an officer and residents could be eligible for cash rewards. Det Insp Terry Richardson said: "The Johnston Street area has been identified as one of the worst areas of Blackburn for drug dealing."

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