POLICE and the community working together have closed down a drug den in Evesham.

People living in the Common Road area were being disturbed day and night by young people using the Old Mill as a place to take all kinds of drugs.

Now, after members of the community and police officers got together, the building has been boarded up.

The semi-derelict property is due to be renovated as part of a huge development plan but has been an easy access spot for drug takers and pushers.

Jim Harding-Roberts, from nearby Cotswold View, said: "They trail in and out all day, and have a lookout in case the police arrive. One girl we have got used to seeing arrives in a taxi!

"They cause a nuisance with the noise outside our houses, they are often high as kites and we don't want them near our children because they are a bad influence.

"We have contacted the police but the youths can see them coming from their lookout on the top floor and dash off from one of the many exits in the mill." Mr Harding-Roberts said he and his neighbours teamed up with police and now the mill is boarded up.

Community beat officer, Paul Adams said: "We have interviewed a number of these young people whom we believe have been using the void premises to get together to take drugs. We know we cannot stop individuals hellbent on drug abuse but we can stop them disturbing other people and we can put our resources into targeting drug peddlers.

"We also contacted the owner of the building and insisted the place was boarded up. We are pleased to be working together with the community to tackle this very serious drug problem in the town."

A spokesman for KingsOak Homes, the developer which owns the building, said: "The building was boarded up at the weekend, and our contractors will be keeping an eye on it from now on."