Ealing Council has obtained a closure order on a disused Southall pub which became a magnet for drug dealing, prostitution and anti-social behaviour.

The premises closure order on the former Northcote Arms pub on Northcote Avenue means that the site has been secured for three months until 9 February 2013, and any unauthorised people in the building risk arrest.

Ealing Magistrates Court also ordered the owners Woodhouse Care Homes to pay Ealing Council costs of £1,500.

Woodhouse Care Homes were granted planning permission in 2010 to convert the building into a care home. The work did not start and the site fell derelict.

As a result it was vandalised and used by drug dealers and rough sleepers. Neighbouring residents also had to endure fires there and hazardous waste being dumped on the site.

The council’s Safer Communities officers worked with residents and the Dormers Wells police safer neighbourhood team to gather evidence for the premises closure application.

The council is also working with charity for the homeless, St Mungo’s to help rough sleepers find accommodation and Regulatory Services ensured the owner cleared the site of hazardous waste.

Ealing Council leader, Julian Bell said: "Because of the owner’s failure to take action to secure and maintain the building, residents have had to put up with criminal activity, noise and very unpleasant anti-social behaviour. I hope this order sends a clear message to the owners that we will not tolerate this building remaining a blight on our community."

"We will continue to work with the police and partners to monitor the site and I would also like to thank those residents whose evidence helped secure the closure order."