IT once brought entertainment to thousands of York people, but has now been branded one of the city's worst eyesores.

Less than a month after the Odeon Cinema, in Blossom Street, was closed and boarded up, local businesses say it gives visitors a terrible impression of the city.

John Maughan, co-owner of The Printer People, which is situated next to the former picturehouse, claimed it had also become a magnet for drinkers and drug users.

He said cinema staff were previously required to wash the building's alleyway leading to The Crescent with disinfectant every day, but this had become "smelly and disgusting" since the closure.

"It looks really bad now," Mr Maughan said. "The alleyway is full of glass, stinks of urine and has become a haven for drug users. This is one of the main thoroughfares into York."

The Grade II listed building's current planning use is restricted to leisure pursuits suitable for large numbers of people.

Odeon has the leasehold on the building, which is owned by Norwich Union, but is believed to still be marketing it to other potential users.

Joanne Winterburn, a stylist at Bainbridge Hair Salon, in Blossom Street, which is a few doors down from the site, said: "We think it's incredibly sad. We need to know what's going on with it. They have created an eyesore. Is that what the council wanted?"

Micklegate ward councillor Sandy Fraser said the site has become an embarrassment.

"I very much regret that the Odeon had to close as a working cinema," he said.

"The building has now become an eyesore and the sooner it's put right, the better. It does nothing to add to what is the historic entrance to the city. The boarding up of such a major and important building gives it a really run down look."

Coun Fraser said he had already raised the state of the alleyway with the local policing team.

A spokeswoman for Norwich Union said: "From our position, the situation hasn't changed in that the Odeon is the leaseholder and is believed to be actively marketing it."

A spokeswoman for the Odeon said the situation was unchanged.

"It would be inappropriate to comment at this time due to business sensitivities," she said.