FIVE feet high letters daubed on a wall spell trouble on a Bury estate.

The bright yellow graffiti, which says "All smackheads get punished here" - was painted along the 20 metre stretch of Ainsworth Road this week. The term 'smackhead' is a slang word used for heroin addicts.

The eye-catching graffiti, which is causing many motorists to do a double-take, covers over the words "Ban the Bomb", painted on the wall more then 30 years ago. But residents living in the Elton area of Bury say it is the latest incident in a series of problems concerning gangs of youths and drugs. They claim the graffiti is a warning to gangs of drug users who have been hanging around the area.

Drug paraphernalia, including syringes and burned spoons often connected with the killer drug heroin or 'smack', have been found in the back streets surrounding Knight Street and Peers Street, close to Ainsworth Road.

One resident, who did not wish to be named said: "There's been a lot of break-ins round here. It's not safe to go out."

Another, who said she had seen used needles in the street, added: "At least someone is doing something about the druggies."

Police in Bury said that they are aware of suggestions that drug users have been hanging around the area, and that there have been a number of break-ins. But they said there was no evidence to connect the two.

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