HUNDREDS of letters claiming a group ply young girls with drugs before taking them to hotels for sex have been delivered in a sinister smear campaign.

Detectives investigating letters sent to homes in Blackburn have branded them ‘wholly irresponsible’.

And victims of the hate-campaign say accusations are ‘vile lies’.

The letters, written in English, Gujarati and Urdu, gave the names and full addresses of four members of a Blackburn family, along with details of a male friend.

Copies were sent to houses from Beardwood to Audley Range on Thursday.

Main target of the poison pen letters, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It is untrue from the first word down to the pathetic ‘thank you’ at the end of it. This letter is nothing but vile lies. This is more than a hate campaign. It is disgusting.

“The letter is hugely damaging to all those mentioned in it.”

Those involved have contacted solicitors and will consider taking legal action if the culprit is found.

Detective Inspector Jim Elston said people receiving the letters should not try and take the law into their own hands.

He said: “We have been notified about the content of these letters and whoever has written and distributed them is wholly irresponsible.

“To conduct a campaign targeting individuals in this way is unacceptable and whoever is involved has not considered the wider consequences of their actions.

“If anyone has concerns about any individual they should contact the police directly or through crime-stoppers. We are investi-gating the circumstances around the letters and are reassuring those people affected.”

Coun Sajid Ali, Bastwell ward, received one of the letters at his home address.

He said: “I was shocked to receive it because this is a terrible thing for someone to do.

“It puts the family in danger. I have known them for several years and they are very genuine people.”