A BURNLEY street has been named as the town's violence hotspot.

The Hammerton Street area, which is where many of the town's late-night pubs and clubs are situated, accounted for more than a quarter of all violent attacks in the Burnley borough.

More than 480 offences were recorded in Hammerton Street and adjoining St James Street over a 12-month period, according to a new report.

The town centre was also named as the hotspot for alcohol-related crime at the peak weekend times between Friday and Sunday nights - when three quarters of all offences occur there.

Police said that more of the incidents occurred on Hammerton Street but measures were being taken to tackle the problem across the town centre.

Licensing chiefs added that the problem was not specifically linked with the pubs and clubs which line the adjoining streets - but the drinkers themselves.

PC Chris Storrey, of Pennine police's licensing department, said: "Since the new Licensing Act came into force, and the police were given more powers to deal with premises, the problems inside pubs have definitely improved.

"The difficulty then arrives when people come outside in large groups and commit offences, and they are dealt with by our patrol officers."

He added: "There is no doubt that Hammerton Street is a problem."

Hammerton Street businesses had a mixed response to the figures.

Kara Windsor, licensee at Bar Central, said that problems with alcohol-related disorder were out of control.

She said: "I don't think the police are doing a good job of monitoring the streets.

"We see fights after Ignite shuts and we don't see any police then.

"I think the bars are as good as the bar staff are.

"We don't get fighting in here but if there was a problem it would be dealt with quickly so the punters wouldn't notice."

Stacey Tweedale, general manager at Mortimers, said: "There's a pub watch scheme and a meeting once a month which we're a part of.

"On Friday and Saturday nights it is really busy down here - especially towards the end of the night about 11.15pm.

"I've seen the odd incident but nothing serious. I have seen police monitoring the area."

Anthony Dewhurst, who owns Strides Designerwear, said: "The report isn't surprising bearing in mind the centre of Burnley nightlife is based along those two streets.

"The three best bars are here and it's very busy.

"There are crowds of people out here at the weekends."

The figures were revealed in Burnley's community safety partnership's strategic assessment which outlines the progress of its three year plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour which concluded in March.

The assessment also describes its key aims for the next 12 months.

This includes reducing crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drugs misuse and promoting community cohesion within Burnley.

To reduce violent crime in Burnley town centre, the report highlights the introduction of the retreat and recover initiative, where representatives from various agencies are available to intervene in various problems.

Deputy council leader Coun Margaret Lishman unveiled a centre last autumn - which acts as a field hospital for town centre revellers and provide help and assistance for late night drinkers.

The centre, at a converted travel agents in Hammerton Street, is manned by police and the primary care trust.

She said: "The centre at night is used as a safe haven for town centre revellers who are in need of help ie minor injuries and are lost, et cetera.

"The centre during the day is used as an information centre on certain days when agencies wish to publicise the work they do and the youth offending team have requested they interview clients at the premises.

Shaun Grogan, the former chair of Burnley Against Nighttime Disorder (BAND), said the crime had reduced in last five year.

Mr Grogan, who manages Pharoahs nightclub, in Hargreave Street, and Insideout (CORR), on Bull Street, said: "These are two streets where a number of people gather on the weekends so there will be bits of trouble.

"With the night time economy of the surrounding areas of Blackburn and Accrington slumping there are more people coming into Burnley.

"So I wouldn't say it's any more than any other towns.

"We are all very pro-active and the radio initiative and the BAND scheme has made a big difference to making Burnley a safer place."