DRUG dealers are blighting a Highfield housing estate, according to residents.

Franco Dimuccio, 45, said people living in Victoria Mews and Victoria Court had even endured beatings from crime gangs as trouble escalated during the past five years.

“For years there’s been nothing but trouble,” he said. “The garages here have become a haven for drug dealers and people have been beaten up – it’s a massive problem.

“CCTV was put up five years ago, but it’s in the wrong place so can’t film what’s going on. We’ve asked and asked for it to be moved – it’s such a simple solution – but we’ve been told it can’t be located where it needs to be because this is a private estate.”

Keighley town councillor Amjid Ahmed, who lives on the same estate, confirmed the area had suffered from drug dealing and anti-social behaviour for many years.

“I’ve got an elderly neighbour who keeps getting stones thrown at his window,” he said. “It’s not very nice when people have retired and they just want a quiet life.

“We were promised CCTV, but unfortunately it was put in at the wrong place. It needs to be where the garages are instead. Hopefully, they are now going to move it, or we’re going to get a new camera. There were council CCTV guys up here last week. So we’re getting there, but we’re getting there slowly.”

Mr Dimuccio, who works as a software developer, added: “Of course we can’t expect the police to be here 24/7, but all they need to do is move the camera 100 yards. I’m not asking for much.

“What saddens me more than anything else is seeing elderly people, who’ve lived here all their lives, doing their best to make this a nice area. They’ve been cleaning up what the drug dealers are leaving behind when they shouldn’t have to.

“We just want a peaceful neighbourhood. I love Keighley and I’d love to be able to make it a beautiful place to live.”

Sergeant Diane Collins, of the Keighley Area Neighbourhood team, said: “We are aware of some concerns raised regarding anti-social behaviour in the Victoria Mews area, and we are working with our partners to identify those responsible and take action against them.

“Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Keighley, and we would urge anyone with concerns to report these to police so we can investigate these reports and take action, where necessary.

“Similarly, we would also ask anyone who has information on drug dealing, or anyone who sees suspicious activity in the area, to report it to the police on 101 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We are investigating the possibility of changing the location of a CCTV camera in Victoria Mews to make it more effective in dealing with the issues raised by residents.”