A FOUR-YEAR campaign by councillors to end anti-social behaviour on a derelict site which has become a magnet for drug abusers and vandals has taken a step forward.

Darlington Borough Council has taken action to compel the owners of the Quaker Centre site, which used to house a sports hall next to Darlington FC's former home at Feethams, to secure the anti-social behaviour hot-spot.

The sports centre was demolished three years ago in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour but problems have continued in the foundations of the former building.

On the request of Councillor Cyndi Hughes, the council has issued a section 29 notice, which means they will secure the site if the owners have failed to do so within seven days.

She came up with the solution because the council have found it difficult to make the site safe as they do not know who owns it.

The action means if the council pay for any work on the site, the mystery owners will be forced to pay for it through the Land Registry office before they are able to sell the site.

Coun Hughes, who has been campaigning for four years to clean up the site, said people had been drinking and drug-taking on the site and community wardens had even reported a homeless man living in the foundations.

"Councillor Joe Lyonette and I have been campaigning to get something done about this site for a long time. We are delighted the council has issued this order," she said.

She said they had received complaints from residents about noise and illegal and anti-social behaviour on the site, with some householders also blaming those who frequented the site for break-ins and damage to their properties.

"The site is clearly a danger to the public - to the trespassers who are hanging around there but also to emergency services staff who may be called in to deal with a fire, or smoke inhalation or even an overdose," said Coun Hughes.

"Someone could have died in there.

"I am just happy the council have decided to take some action."

A council spokeswoman said they would carry out work to secure the site if it had not been done within seven days.

"The site is dangerous and we have had numerous complaints about tresspassing and anti-social behaviour in the area," she said.

"We are still carrying out investigations into the identity of the owner."