LITTER including drug paraphernalia is causing an area of a town to become a ‘lawless’ haven for anti-social behaviour, a resident claims.

Tyrone Anderson, who founded an anti-litter group in Dalton, hopes transforming the area and clearing up debris can help to turn-around the fortunes of the town.

It comes following reports of disorder and anti-social behaviour among youths in the town, which police have been working to tackle.

One area Mr Anderson, of the Dalton Community Clean-Up group, thinks is in need of attention is land behind the town’s leisure centre, which he hopes can become a public garden.

He said: “This point at the very centre of our town is a forgotten no man’s land and is a metaphor for what Dalton is becoming, a place you pass by to get to Barrow or to leave Barrow.

“We’ve had this growing problem of anti-social behaviour coming from that location.

“It’s a neglected, forgotten area.

“It promotes lawless anti-social behaviour – how do we expect them to pick up litter when this is the example?

“The love we want to show our tow and the vision we want to bring back starts here.”

Mr Anderson, a 28-year-old video game developer who lives in the town, said the land was used for drug dealing and paraphernalia was found among the litter left.

“Youths can act in this anti-social way because there’s no-one there to challenge them,” he added.

“Effectively the children have rule over that area.”

Mr Anderson is due to lead to a community clean-up of the area on April 25.

He hopes that, working alongside authorities, his vision will be achieved.

Upgrades to the land have been mooted under plans to apply for money under the Government’s Borderlands scheme, which could see Dalton awarded up to £3 million.

Dalton South councillor Shaun Blezard said: “We’ve been trying to do something with the land for a number of years. It would be perfect for a nature garden, we haven’t got a peaceful park to sit in.”