Town hall staff been put "at threat" by a series of incidents involving drug taking and anti-social behaviour on its car park.

Trafford’s head of planning and development said staff and members [councillors] had reported several issues at the Grade II listed building on Talbot Road.

Officers now plan to install a car park barrier and a fence to tackle the problem.

She said: “There has been some very serious incidents of antisocial behaviour on the car park, putting both staff and members [councillors] at threat.

“These measures are part of a wider package of security measures. There will be some internal measures also to improve security for staff and members because of the various incidents that have taken place.

“The car park is used by people taking drugs regularly and we need to put measures in place to prevent that.”

She was responding at Trafford’s planning committee meeting after Cllr Dan Jerrome questioned why the council needed to spend £3,000 upgrading the car park.

The plans, which include the replacement of an existing timber bin store with a new metal one and a new auto arm car park barrier and the erection of a 2m high fence, were approved.