A POPULAR pub with a playground regularly attracts gangs of abusive children according to a Blackburn councillor.

Billinge Coun Sheila Williams claimed when people living near the Oak Tree pub ask children to behave they are often met with a torrent of abuse.

Coun Williams has backed a petition from residents objecting to amount of noise coming from the Livesey Branch Road pub.

But planning and highways councillors agreed to monitor the situation for the next six months rather than take further action.

Coun Williams said: "There has been noise throughout the summer. And it is not just the noise that has upset the residents.

"There has been screaming, shouting and obscenities coming from the children." She added: "It has not just been the local children who come along who have been causing the trouble.

"There are some people who just dump their kids outside while they spend all night in the pub."

Coun Gail Barton answered: "It might be a good idea this time not to be too heavy handed.

"The owners of the pub have being doing their best to screen the playground off with a fence and trees.

"The summer is now coming to an end and when the nights get darker there will not be as many children playing out of doors."

She added: "The best solution would be to monitor the playground for the next six months.

"Should we close down a children's playground because three or four people have heard some children swearing?"

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