CITY centre retailers in Bradford claim gangs of street drinkers and drug addicts, who congregate outside their businesses, are driving away customers.

Traders in Rawson Road, next to the Oastler shopping centre, say the groups shout, swear, beg and even urinate in public.

And they claim drug deals are openly done on the street.

Retailers say that, despite regular meetings with police and council officials, the problems are not going away.

One trader has provided police with scores of photographs showing evidence of the group's activities.

The trader, who does not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, said: "They drink, spit all over, swear, pee on the staircase to the car park, do drug deals outside the shop. They pass out regularly, I've given up phoning for an ambulance.

"They are drinking there from 7am. Business is suffering. People are not coming in here because of it."

He said up to 20 people hung around, drinking all day in what was designated as a non-drinking area.

"Sometimes they fight, the language is atrocious. When the police turn up, they disappear. As soon as the police have gone, they come back again.

"It has been bad for seven years. We have had meetings with police and the council every six weeks since June but these people are getting away with it.

"Somebody has got to do something."

Another trader, who runs a nearby cafe, said the drinkers congregated and asked people for money.

"Some are really aggressive about it. It makes it uncomfortable for customers who want to sit outside. The drinkers use the bottom of the steps to the car park as a toilet. The Council should clean it, but they don't. I have to wash it down with bleach.

"Some of these people are given orders banning them from the city centre for 48 hours, but they just come back.

"We have a meeting every six weeks but nothing ever gets done. Police presence is a huge deterrent. On the occasions when there is a police van, the drinkers have kept away. More and more people are saying they won't come in to Bradford because it's too scary. It's sad because it's such a lovely place."

The council has promised a major revamp of the Oastler Centre, with plans for an outdoor market, a hot food court and a communal eating area.

But the announcement by supermarket giant Morrisons that it was planning to close its Westgate store was described as a devastating blow.

Despite the traders' criticism, police and Bradford Council insisted it was tackling the problems.

In a joint statement, Councillor Arshad Hussain, Bradford Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community safety, and City Inspector Beth Pagnillo, said: "We are only too aware of the problems caused by a handful of people hanging around on the streets, intimidating others and generally making a nuisance of themselves through their anti-social behaviour and we truly sympathise with businesses.

"We can assure them that this is not what the council or the police want in Bradford city centre.

"A lot of work with a large range of partners is going on to prevent this behaviour in the city centre, including closing off areas where drug dependent and street drinkers gather where possible, clamping down on aggressive begging and moving people on, and trying to get homeless people into accommodation, especially in the winter months.

"This problem is not unique to Bradford as unfortunately most large towns and cities have an element of anti-social behaviour."

Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) said he would speak to police and seek a co-ordinated effort to tackle the issue.

He said: "I can understand the frustration of the traders when they are faced with this on their doorstep. I will meet with the retailers to hear what their issues are."