POLICE were called out to a single street on a council estate more than 100 times last year as anti-social behaviour hit a worrying high.

Six streets in Musselburgh have been singled out by East Lothian Council as having problem tenants and a reputation for drug issues and trouble.

The area in the town, which is referred to as the Wimpey estate locally, has just under 250 council properties on the streets.

However, nearly 500 incidents involving police and anti-social behaviour officers were recorded last year.

And a report to the local authority reveals that long-term tenants have been moving out because of the issues, with fears that new vulnerable residents will become "easy targets" for local drug dealers and criminal gangs.

The council is being asked to introduce a local letting plan for the streets in the town which would allow vacant properties to be allocated outwith the normal allocations policy.

A report to the council says that new tenants will have additional attributes including having no history of anti-social behaviour, and being in work or education at the time.

It says: "A lettings plans would allow us to have a longer-term plan to try and regain more stability within this close community, in and around the Wimpey estate."

The report revealed that one of the streets in the Wimpey estate, Macbeth Moir Road, which has 58 council properties on it, saw 104 police incidents and a further 26 anti-social behaviour reports during 2019.

Other streets included in the proposed plan include Galt Avenue, Galt Road, Moir Avenue, Moir Crescent and Delta Road.

The report says: "Some of our tenants that lived in this area for a long period of time have decided to move out, therefore most allocations will be made to applicants from the general needs list.

"These cases can often include young applicants, some with various issues such as addiction, extreme mental health, alcoholism etc... these tenants can become easy targets for local dealers and in some cases criminal organisations."

It goes on to say that while official complaints about the street are not regular, officers are aware of regular incidents which are not reported because of "fear of reprisals".

It adds that housing on the streets is not in high demand, with only four people currently on the waiting list - with no points .

It says: "This is partly because of the property type but commonly because of the ongoing problems over the years from drug users and suppliers."

Two further local letting plans have also been drawn up - one for a single street in Prestonpans and one for a street in North Berwick.

The plan for McLeod Crescent in Prestonpans says that 29 council properties are there and it has historically not been a popular choice for people seeking a home.

It says local intelligence suggests "there are fights breaking out in the middle of the street on a regular basis, there is a constant flow of traffic to particular properties and police attend on a regular basis".

It added that tenants have reported finding used needles in their gardens.

The report says: "It has been difficult and almost impossible to implement any enforcement action under the anti-social behaviour policy because the complainers are frightened of repercussions."

It reveals that properties on the street have been refused by housing applicants because it is "a street well known for drug dealing and addictions".

On Glenburn Road, North Berwick, where the council has 35 properties, it is stated that two residents and one tenant currently have an ASBO and police were called out 88 times last year.

It again says that issues involving drug abuse and dealing may have led to a "decrease in demand for the street".