BEACON House bosses say they are working hard to be good neighbours but say there is only so much they can do once service users have left the building.

Centre manager Vivienne Wiggins also said the charity is taking the complaints seriously and has employed an outreach worker to focus exclusively on Crouch Street.

She said: “We obviously take responsibility for what goes on inside the building but, while I in no way condone this behaviour, it is difficult for us to police the street.

“We try so hard to be good neighbours and anyone who has complained has received a visit from our outreach worker. We live in a time of increasingly stretched resources and we can will always be there to help people who need our help.

“While I would never dismiss the concerns, we can only do what we can inside the building.”

Mrs Wiggins also pointed out some of the people causing trouble for businesses are not Beacon House customers.

She added: “With the complex issues were are dealing with, the people we are trying to help often have with them people who have the same issues.

“And in fact that is another reason for how we are using our outreach worker - if a person is physically this close to the building, maybe all they need is a gentle move into it, where we can begin to help.”