BLACKWOOD ward councillors assured locals that budget cuts won't mean the end of night security at the town's bus station and the return to the "dark days" of huge anti-social behaviour problems.

Last week town councillors presented a 250-name petition to Caerphilly council asking the local authority not to axe the provision as it manages a cut of £127,000 in revenue support for bus services.

Cllr Nigel Dix and other local county councillors met cabinet member for transport Tom Williams who he said agreed services in Blackwood should not be hit.

Between October 2011 and March 2012, there were 48 recorded incidents- including assaults, drug-using and selling, thefts and knife-carrying youths congregating.

Shop owners described the area as dangerous and said the problems were putting people off from coming to the town.

Cllr Dix said that many shop owners described the problem times as "dark days", saying businesses near the bus station were badly hit as people were scared to go there.

He added: "I would like to reassure the public that this council will do all it can to ensure that the bus station continues to be a safe place.

"A multi-agency working group consisting of Caerphilly council ,local councillors, Stage Coach and the police was set up to tackle the issue.

"They have done a sterling job in combating anti social behaviour at the bus station, we are not going to do anything that could under mine their work."