DRUNKS were urinating on office windows, business owners whose complaints led to benches being removed outside their premises said yesterday.

Employees at Stockton businesses claim hundreds of incidents of anti-social behaviour were reported in a year-long campaign to get benches on Dovecot Street removed.

Stockton Borough Council say the seating area was taken away after businesses in the vicinity claimed those frequenting it were ‘distracting’.

The claim angered local residents, with Stockton man Richard Lee installing a new bench at the site in protest this week.

Nearby workers have now come forward to say the council’s response to press queries did not reflect the severity of problems on Dovecot Street.

Joining Mr Lee’s call to provide better support for those with addiction issues, they claimed a minority of intoxicated people caused significant problems.

A businessman from Digital House said alleged incidents included regular outbreaks of violence, intimidation and people urinating against nearby buildings.

He said: “A group of people would sit out there from early morning until late at night after buying cheap booze from nearby shops.

“We’re a close knit community here and we’d say hello and talk but there’s one group who were particularly boisterous and unapproachable.

“There were days where there’d be several fights, they’d be smashing bottles, intimidating people and asking for money.

“People have issues in life but anti-social behaviour like that is unacceptable.”

He added: “We’re trying to run a business and we’d have people knocking on our windows and shouting.

“It was distracting and intimidating and we’d fought for a year to get the council to see it as an issue.

“We live and work in Stockton and are positive about the town – millions have been spent on the high street which is good but I worry people are being forgotten.

“There needs to be extra help for charities who are rushed off their feet trying the help those who need it.

“We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place because there are always people who have been offered help and don’t want to take it.”