FED up residents have called for a borough-wide ban on youngsters playing 'anti-social' sports in residential streets.

Residents across Redbridge have complained for years about children making their lives a misery by kicking balls against their walls and making a racket late into the night.

But campaigners have now demanded the council take the first step in helping to tackle the problem by bringing in a new byelaw banning 'anti-social games' from residential streets and estates once and for all.

Frank Cruder, Chairman of Chelmsford and Derby Road Neighbourhood Watch Group, said two families in his area had suffered countless sleepless nights because of games of football being played outside their homes.

He said: "You get people playing football in Derby Road carpark right up to 3am in the morning sometimes.

"It's really causing problems for people who live in that part of the road.

"One of the families is elderly and they have been very badly affected by this.

"I support efforts to deal with this, but it remains to be seen how any rules would be enforced. Would the police or council be responsible for this?"

Community campaigner Wilson Chowdhry, won a promise from the council to investigate the issue earlier this year - but said speedier action needs to be taken to end the suffering of those affected.

He said: "I have spoken to people from across Redbridge who have suffered serious emotional distress because of this problem.

"It is something the council can't ignore - it is having a real impact on people's lives."

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: "From an enforcement perspective, there are ample tools available to the police and the local authority to deal with and prevent anti social behaviour by young people.

"A better approach, however, for this low level problem is to provide alternative ways in which young people can be occupied or engaged with the local community.

"The Local Authority offers a range of opportunities for young people to engage in structured positive activities through for example, local youth projects and leisure facilities.

"Where anti-social behaviour is an issue young people can be referred to the Youth Inclusion Programme so that they can participate in one-to-one diversionary activities with a professional."