DRUNKS and drug addicts who gather at the bus station are giving people a bad first impression of the town.

That is the view of people who work in the area who say it is becoming a no-go zone. As of Monday police will be able to move any troublemakers along thanks to a new dispersal order.

Those who have watched the rise of antisocial behaviour at the station are hoping the order will help improve their lives.

PCSO Stuart Bird, of Swindon police, said: "Antisocial behaviour is a significant and persistent problem in the locality.

"Examples of this have been a substantial number of drunken offences as well as abusive and intimidating behaviour.

"Drug use and alcohol consumption is a problem in the area and this intimidates members of the public working and visiting the area."

The order will run until April 15 and means police can disperse groups of two or more people. Anyone who ignores the order can be arrested.

Dave Parfitt, 48, who has run Cobbler's Corner at the bus station for 19 years, is so fed up with the trouble he is moving out in a month's time.

He said: "We're isolated down here and there's no protection.

"There's fighting and drug dealing. You're trying to serve an 80-year-old lady and you've got them outside, talking about their exploits at the top of their voices."

Dave says the area has gone downhill quickly in recent years.

"It's like a forgotten place and people feel intimidated, they don't feel safe.

"If people come here in a coach this is the first thing they see of Swindon and it needs cleaning up."

Staff at the Bus Station Kiosk newsagents say they often have people coming in to take refuge from trouble outside.

Manager Jenny Barnes said: "It's absolutely disgusting down here. You have up to 20 of them out there and we have girls coming in here because they are frightened.

"Imagine what people think when they get off coaches.

"We have people dealing drugs and you get drunks coming down with their sleeping bags.

"If the police follow this through then the order will help."

On Friday those waiting for buses welcomed news of the dispersal order.

Elaine Hunt, 62, of Eldene said: "It's really not very nice here and if the police are going to do something to move these types along then I think we would all be pleased about that."

Stan Rose, 71, of Freshbrook, said: "It does get a big dodgy round here. It's been bad for a while. Anything that cleans it up is good."