Security on Central Parade has been given a festive boost thanks to an early Christmas present from the council.

Steve O'Connell, cabinet member for regeneration, has agreed to provide money to repair security gates and doors destroyed by vandals.

The council will match funds raised by the Central Parade Business Partnership, which hopes to collect £5,000 from its 40 members.

It is welcome news as the committee had run out of money to repair the security measures, which were constantly destroyed by vandals.

But following the closure of two flats used as drugs dens above the shops, chairman Ken Burgess believes the time is right to rebuild.

He said: "This is brilliant news. We were trying to raise money ourselves but it wasn't going to be enough to do everything we need.

"We have spent a fortune on installing security measures only for them to be vandalised by people attracted by drug dealers above the Parade.

"There was a large amount of vandalism to the security doors leading up to the flats.

"We had to stop repairing them because they were being broken faster than they could be fixed."

Two flats above the Parade were shut in less than a month and the tenants evicted after the council adopted a zero-tolerance policy on drugs dens.

Elijah Thompson's flat 13A in Central Parade was boarded up in November after reports of drug dealing.

And 35A, where Jacqueline Nethersole, 51, lived with her two sons, was closed in October after officers found a large quantity of crack cocaine there.

Partnership vice chairman Mark Carruthers said: "Now we have got rid of unsavoury elements it gives us the chance to make things better."

The money will be used to repair the six security doors, most of which are currently out of action.

It will also fund improvements to the two security gates blocking access to the back of the shops – installed to reduce fly-tipping and theft – which have been damaged by careless lorry drivers.

Mr Carruthers added that instead of a universal security key allowing access to all the doors, the partnership planned to divide the flats into sections, with separate keys for each, so that any further problems can be contained.

Cllr Steve O'Connell announced the funding at a full council meeting in the town hall on Monday.

He told the Advertiser: "I have got very high aspirations for the regeneration of Central Parade

"However, I recognise that there are some immediate challenges which need attention, namely the security of the shops.

"Ken came to me and I thought this was an eminently deserving scheme because it's a well known fact the area behind the shops has been blighted by problems and misbehaviour."

The Central Parade Business Partnership hopes to begin the improvements early next year.