Nearly 600 people have backed calls to make a crime-plagued Stoke-on-Trent high street safer.

Meir North councillor Lauren Davison says residents feel 'unsafe' on Weston Road due to increasing crime, anti-social behaviour and drug abuse.

Residents have reported seeing drug deals taking place in alleyways, with intoxicated individuals hanging around outside shops on most days. Cllr Davison said one alley off Weston Road had been the scene of a 'cowardly attack' on police officers.

A total of 599 people have signed Cllr Davison's petition which calls on Stoke-on-Trent City Council to implement measures such as installing more CCTV cameras and better lighting.

Cllr Davison presented the petition to a meeting of the full council, saying that the problems in Weston Road are driving away businesses and preventing residents from going out at night.

She said: "Too many residents have told me that they've seen things recently that make them feel unsafe. Parents told me they don't let their children walk home alone from school. Pensioners and women particularly say that they feel unsafe going out after dark.

"Shop workers have spoken to me about shoplifting and people hanging around outside their shops under the influence of drink or drugs on an almost daily basis.

"These things together create an atmosphere that puts people off using the high street. Businesses have told me this atmosphere is the reason they've left Meir, and others are considering leaving too in the future."

Cllr Davison believes the council can tackle the problems in Weston Road by implementing 'a few straightforward changes'. She said this should include more CCTV, 'designing out crime' measures, and a review of the alley-gating system.

Cllr Davison told the meeting that residents particularly wanted to see the alley behind the Nisa shop gated off.

She added: "In my view this is quite reasonable. They've had ongoing problems with drug deals and finding needles, and intimidation. Just a few months ago this alley was the scene of a cowardly attack on police officers."

Cllr Davison also raised concerns that proposed changes to PCSO shift patterns, which could see cuts to evening patrols, could make it harder to tackle the issues in Weston Road.

Councillors voted to note the petition. It will now be referred to the housing, regeneration and operations overview and scrutiny committee in line with the council's constitution.