A security guard will be on duty outside a Braintree shop after worried customers launched a petition over anti-social behavour there.

Target - outside the Co-op store in Panfield Road, Braintree, where groups of youngsters have made customers feel intimidated. (38600-1)

Graffiti has been repeatedly daubed on walls of the store while large groups of youngsters hanging around outside have left customers feeling intimidated.

The Co-op store, in Panfield Lane, Braintree, has now employed a guard who will start work today, following repeated complaints by customers.

Harassed customers signed a petition on Monday to protest against the "unacceptable" actions of young people, hanging around outside and intimidating passers-by.

A spokesman for the Co-op said: "We can confirm that there have been problems outside the Panfield Lane store, where groups of youths have been loitering.

"In the interests of safety, we are working with the police to resolve the situation and a security guard will be on duty from Thursday."

Published Thursday, October 7, 2004

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