WANSTEAD High School headteacher Chris Van Bussel has offered to hold talks with residents who have criticised the behaviour of his pupils.

He made the move after shoppers and traders in Wanstead High Street complained about the poor behaviour of youngsters who congregate in the area after school.

They claim that a 'rowdy minority' of children from the school hang around in the High Street until the early evening, shouting and dropping litter - and have called for teachers to be stationed in the area as a deterrent.

Mr Van Bussel said the school regularly monitors the behaviour of children in the High Street but that teachers could not be made to marshall them after school had finished.

He said: "We take the behaviour of our children extremely seriously.

"I have not received many complaints about their behaviour recently, but I would be happy to speak to any members of the community who want to discuss this.

"We already have teachers outside the school ensuring our pupils leave safely, but we don't have the power to require them to monitor children when they are on their way home. But we can ask

"We already work closely with the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team to ensure our pupils behave appropriately and I would be happy to work with other community groups who contact me."