People in a Moray town want a row of derelict garages which have become a haunt for drug users razed to the ground.
They have branded the abandoned buildings in the north of Elgin an “eyesore” and say they have found used syringes lying around.
And residents have demanded action amid fears for the safety of youngsters who play nearby.
Members of Elgin Community Council believe the only way to deter troublemakers is to demolish the graffiti-covered buildings.
Moray Council yesterday pledged to do everything in its power to bring residents’ misery to an end.
But housing chiefs say their efforts have been stymied because mystery surrounds the ownership of some of the empty garages.
Community council chairman Alistair Kennedy has led calls for the problems to be tackled since being approached by worried locals in the South Lesmurdie area.
Mr Kennedy said: “My main concern is safety, the longer these things are left to rot then the more hazardous they become.
“We heard about a child becoming stuck in one of those garages recently, and I just worry that a youngster climbing on their roofs could fall through and get hurt.
“They are just a mess, some are missing doors and have obviously been used as a dumping ground.
“We have been told by residents that they have been used by people taking drugs, and needles and other paraphernalia have been found.
“That is a huge worry for the people that live around there.
“I can’t imagine the garages are worth preserving, they should just be knocked down then they wouldn’t be a problem anymore.”
Patsy Gowans, who represents the Elgin City North ward, said she had been inundated with messages from Woodside Terrace residents concerned about the garages’ worsening state.
Councillor Gowans said: “I fear that these garages are still owned by people who might have bought them years ago, who have since moved house and forgotten about them.
“That means we could have trouble sorting this out, as they can’t be purchased from their owners if nobody knows who they are.
“They certainly attract antisocial behaviour and they could be an accident waiting to happen.”
Mrs Gowans added that burned mattresses and a filthy duvet had recently been removed from the site by council workers.
The local authority’s head of housing, Richard Anderson, has issued an appeal for help in tracking down the owners of the buildings.
Mr Anderson said: “The council is very aware of the issues concerning these garages, most of which have long been abandoned by the owners.
“Before we can effect a permanent solution, we need to trace the owners in order to buy them back – whatever the condition of them.
“If anyone knows anything of the last known ownership of a garage in this row, I’d ask them to please get in touch with me.
“I’ll be delighted to speak to them to help resolve this vandalism issue.”
Mr Kennedy welcomed the authority’s proactive stance on the matter.
He added: “The council seems to have taken these concerns on board, and I just hope that a solution can be found as quickly as possible.”