PART of Wrexham town centre has been turned into a no-go area after dark by gangs of drunken beggars who are intimidating passers-by.

That is the claim of Smithfield councillor Keith Gregory following an incident on Monday evening in which a man sustained a head injury during a disturbance in Market Street.

Cllr Gregory said: “I don’t know if this is connected to the matter I have been complaining about to the police for some time, but is sounds like it could be.

“I have been concerned for the past few years about groups gathering under the ramp up to the multi-storey car park in Market Street.

“These people are usually rough sleepers – there is usually about half a dozen of them – men and women.

“They hang around there stopping people going past and asking them for money.

“They are coming up to people and intimidating them and it can be very scary being stopped like this by beggars.”

He added: “After dark I’d say it has become a no-go area. I have reported this to the police before but after this latest incident I will be contacting them again and asking them to do something about it.”

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “There is no such thing as a no-go area in Wrexham.

“Incidents will happen from time to time but statistics show that Wrexham is one of the safest places to live, work and visit in the region.”

- ONE person has been arrested following a disturbance in Wrexham town centre on Monday night in which a man received a cut to the head. Police were called to deal with the incident in Market Street just before 8.30pm.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “A male had been assaulted and had sustained a nasty gash to his head.

“An ambulance was called and he was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he was kept in for observation.

“One person has been arrested and CID are now investigating.”

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information should call 101.