PROBLEMS with begging have sparked calls for there to be better standards of bedsits in a town.

Blackburn neighbourhood policing team said several beggars were moved on from Ewood, Whalley Range and the town centre in Blackburn last week.

Police said the beggars were signposted to support services for housing and food and that they had made the council aware of the situation.

And borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said the high number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO)- commonly known as bedsits - in the town wasn’t helping the situation.

Cllr Riley said they were bringing into the town more vulnerable people than would be normal in a place of Blackburn’s size.

He went on to call for tighter regulations to tackle sub-standard bedsits and ensure that people who are in them get the rehabilitation and support they need so they don’t end up on the streets.

He said: “We have a significant issue in Blackburn with the number of houses in multiple occupation.

“They are bringing into the town more vulnerable people than would be normal in a town of this size.

“A lot of the people living in them have problems with drink and drugs.

“These people don’t have a lot of money and may be more likely to go on the streets begging.”

He called for an inspection framework similar to Ofsted or the Care Quality Commission to ensure basic national standards for bedsits.

Cllr Riley’s calls follow similar ones made by borough community safety manager Mark Aspin last year.

Mr Aspin said that if there was an inspection framework, the majority of HMOs around the borough would be shut down within a year.

He said the council did not have powers to properly tackle the problem.

Cllr Riley said: “I would echo Mark’s calls and there needs to be tighter regulation in terms of how they are run and so the people that are in them that need rehabilitation get it.”

Cllr Riley said he was aware of the issue of begging and that the council were working with the police to try to offer alternative lifestyles to people.

He added: “There are no shortage of services in Blackburn but the difficulty is a lot of people are reluctant to use them.”