RESIDENTS near a Chingford park are demanding the police take more action to tackle anti-social youths.

People living near Pimp Hall Park, on Simmons Lane, say they are sick of trouble after dark, youths being loud, rowdy and smashing bottles.

They said they want police to take more action against louts who were climbing over the park fence over the weekend, drinking and making a nuisance.

Resident Wendy Stokes said: “Many people who have used the park throughout a life-time to take young children to the swings, to walk dogs, sunbathe and have picnics are appalled by the masses of borken glass, condoms, rubbish and areas of bonfires that are left after a night of loutish behaviour.”

She said that the trouble has got worse since play equipment for older children was installed in March and the safety matting is torn up regularly. Residents have resorted to cleaning up the glass and rubbish themselves because they are afraid someone will get hurt.

“Youths are using the swings all night long,” she said. “All night you can hear the shouting and the creak-creak of the swings. Some people work on weekends and have responsibilities. Children are kept awake all night long by the noise. And you can’t put in ear plugs if you need to listen out for an alarm clock in the morning.

“There is always a huge amount of broken glass and body sprays they use for sniffing lying around,” she said. “The place is like a tip. It is an unsightly place to take young children.

“I have lived in Chingford all my life. It was always a very safe park and never attracted any attention. Now there is an element of anti-social behaviour and the park is closed to anyone else. People around here treasure that park. That is why they are picking up the broken glass.

“A lot of people are suffering there. It is a total shambles. Several people are tearing their hair out. Local people really have had enough.”

Other residents agreed that the trouble had got worse since play equipment was installed. One man said it had become an unofficial party site. Another said gangs were meeting in the park.

Resident Fatma Mehmet said: “There have been syringes left in the park a few times. I know someone who has two dogs and she is worried about walking them in the park now because she found the syringes. There is sometimes broken glass about.

“There are problems in the park. But there seems to be nothing for the youngsters to do. I have been here 18 years and it’s only getting worse. It’s a lovely area. It needs to be kept that way. The only solution would be to provide something for them to do.”

Daniel Smith takes his children and dog to the park regularly. He said: “I have not had any trouble when I go to the park, but I go during the day with my young children. People do say there is more trouble in the evenings when the gates are locked and youths are jumping over the gates. But it is not just teenagers, there are some in their 20s too. The trouble seems to be worse on weekends, but now it’s the beginning of the summer holidays and people are off school it can only get worse.”

Sergeant Lee Palmer of Hatch Lane Safer Neighbourhoods Team said his team was alerted in May by some local workmen about youths climbing over the park gates and causing anti-social behaviour. The team responded by increasing patrols in the area.

Police said they have not been contacted by residents since May. They said at the time they carried out targeted patrols in the area. But added that if residents have specific times and dates of incidents they should get in touch with them.

A police spokeswoman added: "They patrol the area every day. If there is a problem they want to know about it. The park is on their beat and they would encourage anyone who sees any incidents at the park to get in touch with them."

Anyone with information can call Hatch End Safer Neighbourhood Police on 0208 721 2641.