Fearful traders were today hoping an increased police presence will keep troublesome youths under control during tonight's fireworks celebrations.

Over the weekend, more than 100 hooligans went on the rampage at Tarpots, Benfleet, letting off fireworks before smashing up telephone boxes, bus shelters and shops.

Extra police officers were drafted in to help disperse the crowd and patrol London Road and ten more officers were to keep watch over the area during the Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Valerie James, who runs the Rose Bowl florist at Tarpots, said: "We have had the police coming along every evening and moving people along so hopefully that will stop any trouble there might be. However, I don't think we are going to have the same problems on Bonfire Night because all these youths will have parties and events to go to."

Jean O'Connor, supervisor at the Co-Op which had a window smashed during the weekend's trouble, said: "We will be open until our usual time of 10pm tonight unless we see any signs of a crowd of people outside as large as on Halloween - then we will shut early.

Insp Chris Wood, of Benfleet police, said: "We are as prepared as we can be for any trouble tonight but I think it is unlikely we will see anything on a scale of what went on at Tarpots on Halloween. The number of people in the area that night was out of the ordinary."

Published Tuesday November 5, 2002