Action to be taken at former pub The Station in St Helen Auckland

A spokesman for members of a group, who want to remain anonymous, said problems at the former Station Free House, in St Helen Auckland, have reached "silly" levels over the past year.

Issues reported include scrap cars being worked on outside the derelict pub as well as issues with drug raids, flytipping and general antisocial behaviour in nearby houses.

Other grievances include vehicles and piles of old tyres often being left on site, blocking the pavement and forcing elderly people and children to have to walk on the road.

The spokesman said there was "an accident waiting to happen" and residents felt like they were being ignored despite reporting the problems to both the police, fire brigade and Durham County Councillor for West Auckland Christine Wilson.

"The situation is getting worse and we have had no feedback from the authorities," he said. "We all have to live here. There's a public right of way through it and people are frightened to use it. It's getting to the point where it's getting silly."

He added: "It's absolutely horrendous and has gone on for nearly a year."

Cllr Wilson said she sympathised with residents and was "trying to rectify the problem".

She said: "There's a big problem there and I have had complaints from residents. It's a mess and a disgrace."

Inspector Andy Reeves, of the Bishop Auckland Neighbourhood Policing Team, said several different agencies had walked round the site and were putting a plan in place to combat the problems.

Durham County Council has also confirmed it will now be taking action at the site.

Ian Hoult, the council's neighbourhood protection manager said: “We are aware of the issues at this site and served a community protection notice on the land owner in April this year which, among other conditions, required him to remove all the waste within the land’s boundaries.

"Given this formal notice has not been complied with, we will now be taking appropriate action.”