A SUSPECTED drugs den could be forced to close after police said it had made neighbours' lives a misery for months.

Police and officers from social landlords Twin Valley Homes said they had been inundated with complaints about the behaviour of people visiting the flat in Fawcett Close, Galligreaves, Blackburn.

Needles and other drug paraphernalia have been left littering the street and there have been numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour involving those living in and visiting the flat, police said.

During a raid in July eight wraps of heroin were found in the building, according to officers.

Police have now posted a closure notice on the door of the flat which prevents anyone other than the three people officially listed as residents there from entering the property.

Anyone who does so faces arrest.

No one was at the property when the notice was put up yesterday afternoon.

Officers, along with staff from Twin Valley Homes, said they would present evidence of Class A drug use at the flat to Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Friday in a bid to gain a Crack House Closure Order.

This would prevent absolutely anyone from entering the building for a period of three months.

Sgt Colin Dassow, Blackburn Police, said: "The good thing with a closure notice and the following order is that residents can give their evidence to us anonymously and we can then present it to the court because it is a civil matter.

“This means people are more willing to speak to us about the things that are causing problems in their neighbourhood. It gives power to the people."

He added: "We have had success with applying for closure orders in the past and it sends a clear message to the community that action is being taken against the premises and informing the drug dealers that their activities will not be tolerated."

Anyone with any information about drug dealing or activity is urged to contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.