PEOPLE in Darlington are campaigning for a telephone box frequented by drug users and dealers to be removed.

The box is in Southend Avenue, just yards from where 31-year-old Jeffrey Brown was stabbed in Grange Road on the afternoon of Sunday, March 28.

Darlington borough councillor Cyndi Hughes, who has taken up the campaign on behalf of residents, says drug users have become an increasing problem.

"At the last two residents' meetings this has been raised and now we want the phone box to be removed," she said.

"Druggies hang out there and use the phone to make their deals, and it also seems to be a pick-up point for dealers to drop off their drugs to buyers.

"That area has also become a dumping ground for hypodermic needles, so people hope that by removing the phone box we can remove the problem from the area."

Coun Hughes said that because most people had mobile phones there was no need for the telephone box.

A spokesman for BT said the box was already on its list for removal after consultation with Darlington Borough Council's planning department.

The spokesman said: "We are intending to remove it. We are waiting for the power to be switched off by Northern Electric, then we will remove the phone and then contractors will take the kiosk away.

"We cannot say exactly when all of this will happen, but probably within the next couple of months."

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said that there had been a sudden increase in the number of hypodermic needles dumped in the area about six weeks ago, but increases in police patrols meant the number of needles being found had been dramatically reduced.

"It's not a case of removing our attention from the area because we have had this reduction in the needles being found," she said.

"We are still conscious of the fact there may be drug activity and we want to clamp down on it."

Anyone with information about illegal drug use is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681.