A CATALOGUE of anti-social behaviour was captured on camera by campaigners fighting to close an alleyway.

Thirty two people were taped urinating in the passage which links Manchester Road, Haslingden, with the Dale Street public car park and the estate beyond in just one evening.

And police said that they had recorded almost 100 instances of anti social behaviour, including lewd acts and drug-taking, in the ginnel in the past year.

Councillors backed Rossendale Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’s plans to prevent public access to the alleyway between 7pm and 7am by issuing a gating order.

This was despite objectors, including seven businesses, collecting a 769-name petition against the move as they were unhappy a well-used link to the Dale Street car park is to be cut off.

As part of a report presented to the Lancashire Local Rossendale committee on Monday, Worsley ward Coun David Stansfield said on one evening people had been filmed urinating in the alley on 32 separate occasions.

Mary Lynch, who owns Hair Affair, in Manchester Road, as well as the flat above the salon and the shop next door with her partner Michael Gallagher, said they paid £2000 out of their own money to have gates fitted two years ago because vandals had made their lives a misery.

She added: “We were advised by a solicitor that we would be able to put the gates on and lock them at night but then we were told by the county council that it’s an adopted road, so we would need a gating order.

“We’ve had our side doors kicked in loads of times and we have to replace the carpet every two or three weeks because people keep urinating on it.”Mrs Lynch and Mr Gallagher filmed the incidents with their CCTV security system.

Coun Judith Driver, who sits on the committee, described the film as 'unbelievable' and called for the proposal to be given the go-ahead.

Speaking after the meeting, Helmshore ward Coun Peter Evans called for a 'zero tolerance' approach to crime. He said: "This will be the first gating order in Rossendale. Anti social behaviour reports have increased from 358 in the Hasligden area last year to 484 this year - a rise of 35 per cent.

"We need to take action to eliminate this most pervasive and disturbing activity and give the residents of Haslingden a break.”

The committee recommended the lock is fitted on the condition that it must be opened by an automatic device and not a human being.

Chief Insp Jeff Brown said: “There is a long standing issue and the reality is that the police are probably in favour of the public alleyway remaining open because the majority of people do use it properly.

“But we are supportive of the decision and the fact that is on a timer is probably the best way forward.”