POLICE are set to open an office in a first-floor flat in a troubled Blackburn neighbourhood.

The site, in Rothesay Road, Shadsworth, is expected to be up and running next month in a bid to give officers a bigger presence in the community.

Police said it would allow people to visit officers at set times if they were uncomfortable coming to a police station.

It would also put police in the heart of an area that had been blighted by anti-social behaviour.

In the past month, two young thugs have been convicted of causing trouble at the nearby Spar shop.

And two young brothers have been given ASBOs after a catalogue of incidents were reported in the area.

Community Beat Manager for the area, PC Louise Briggs, said the office, above the Spar shop, would provide a ‘footprint in the community’ for the police.

She said: “This is where the main trouble is and if we put ourselves in the epicentre of things, we can make a positive impact.

“The residents can come and speak to us. Some people are not comfortable coming to a PACT meeting or a police station, so if we are here in the community it is a place that people will hopefully feel more comfortable that they can come to speak to us.”

Officers and community outreach staff will be based at the flat on certain days of the week.

A deal has been done with bosses at local social landlord Places for People to use the building.

Anyone with information or concerns about anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood can contact their local policing team on 0845 1253545 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.