Largs community councillors have heard how drug dealers and addicts are making life a misery for residents in Nelson Street.

A delegation of residents from Nelson Street marched in to the Community Council meeting on Thursday, and described how the “dregs of society” are blighting the street.

This prompted Cllr Patricia Perman to state that no-one should have to endure what the residents are putting up with.

The residents spoke about a constant stream of “undesirables” arriving at particular addresses and noise that lasted well into the night as a result of car doors banging, people shouting at each other, and loud music.

They also said discarded syringes were found in the street, and how they felt intimidated by people with “big anti-social dogs” going up and down the street all day.

One woman told the councillors: “I called the police 16 times in one weekend because of the partying which went on from Thursday to Monday. The police came up 16 times but were told ‘you have no warrant so you’re not getting in’.

Another said: “Every drug dealer and addict in the area is up there shouting at each other day and night. It goes on until two in the morning.” One woman said she was scared every time she went home. Another has moved out of her home.

The residents said that despite going to the authorities, including the police, there had been no improvement with the situation lasting over 10 years.

The delegation of ten had arrived unexpectedly at the community council meeting and their spokeswoman told chairman Douglas Blair they wanted to expose what was going on in the street.

Councillor Blair allocated the alarmed residents a slot at the start of the agenda and members listened intently as they outlined their catalogue of despair.

They claimed that one house where dealers and addicts came and went was owned by a landlord, whom they named, and who had “a few properties in Largs”.

Council chairman Mr Blair said: “You have painted a picture of the deplorable conditions you have to live in. I am sorry you have had to put up with such bad behaviour. This is a serious matter that needs investigation.” The council agreed to help the residents as far as they could by writing to the police, North Ayrshire Council, individual North Coast councillors, and the council’s landlord registration department.

Cllr Johann McIntytre pointed out that the landlord registration department would need evidence of anti-social behaviour, and she urged the residents to keep diaries detailing times when the situation was bad.

Cllr Margaret Wood, a member of the community council’s police sub-committee, is also to meet with residents individually to discuss their concerns. She took notes from the residents at the end of the discussion.

Ironically, two young constables who turned up at the council meeting rushed away on a call before the residents told their story.