GATES that have locked drug takers and prostitutes out of the back alley where teenager Carly Bateman was murdered are to become a permanent fixture.

Six months ago steel barriers were put up at both ends of Back Crawford Avenue in The Haulgh on a trial basis, following years of complaints from local residents that the alleyway was being used by kerb crawlers and drug abusers.

In November 2001, the body of vice girl Carly Bateman was found in the alley. Her killer Geoffrey Porter was jailed for life for murder a year later.

This week, town hall bosses decided that residents can keep the 16-foot-wide gates which prevent people who do not live in the area gaining access.

Residents say they are delighted with the news as the gates have made a dramatic improvement to security -- as only they have the keys.

Dave Morgan, who is also a community director of The Haulgh Community Partnership, said locals now feel much safer and have not seen any illegal activity taking place in the alley since the steel tubed gates were installed.

He added: "The gates have really improved our quality of life enormously. Before we had the gates all you could hear at nights were cars screeching up the street. In the morning we would find disused needles and condoms littered about.

"Now we feel much safer and it is cleaner. The gates have really brought back peace of mind. It's much quieter round here."

Residents have been campaigning for years for something to be done about the alleyway which was regularly used by kerb crawlers, even after Carly's death.

Various local by-laws were suspended to allow the gates to be put up, with the council footing the bill.