It seems to happen day after day in Castle Point.

Complaints of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the hands of yobs are commonplace.

Facts - minister Hilary Benn, second from right, gets the message from councillors and police Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

But there is action to tackle the problem, as Labour minister Hilary Benn found out during a visit to Roseberry Avenue in Benfleet.

He was impressed with shopkeepers and residents who have battled alongside the council and police to stop vandals destroying their livelihoods.

Only months ago traders would arrive at their stores to find windows smashed and graffiti covering the walls. However, councillors are pouring money into the area and helping set up residents and tenants associations to beat the louts.

The hard work seems to be paying off. Roseberry Avenue is the council's first action zone, where different organisations have worked in partnership to turn the shopping parade around.

Jackie Reilly, lead member for finance at the council, said: "Roseberry Avenue is our first action zone. It is part of our manifesto to set up action zones where residents and councillors can work together to regenerate their local areas."

Council leader Dave Wells said: "We have met residents, traders and lease holders of the shops and worked with them to identify the problem and work out how to solve it.

"This has included setting up residents and traders associations and getting the help of a crime reduction police officer. The council also has a community safety officer to help deal with anti-social behaviour as well as other things."

Joe Cook, a ward councillor for the Roseberry Avenue area, said: "This is a scheme based on partnership, on the residents, traders, councillors and police all working together to improve the area.

"The council put a lot of money into improving the area and making it safe and now with the hard work everyone is putting in it will stay that way."

Daniel Lloyd, manager at his parents' carpet shop, Lloyds Carpets, told how the family's life had been made a misery by heartless thugs.

He said: "The situation used to be terrible. There would be up to about 50 or 60 kids hanging around. It was quite intimidating for some people. There were people who were too frightened to go to the chip shop.

"Now the situation seems to have got a lot better. There are now just five or six kids hanging around.

"Police have made a big difference by regularly policing the area and now it seems as if the kids have moved on somewhere else."

But Roseberry Avenue is not the only area to have been targeted by vandals. Residents living in Tarpots and on Canvey have also had their lives blighted by youths attacking shops and schools.

Mr Wells said: "We want these community action zones to be borough-wide."

However, Jo Bushell, who runs the Flower Fountain flower shop in Roseberry Walk, said: "There is nothing for the young people to do around here. If we want the kids off the streets there needs to be somewhere else for them to go."

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003

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