Police have said there is no way they would entertain village vigilante patrols.

A suggestion by a villager to mount special patrols, perhaps for one night a week possibly on a Friday, followed calls for a clampdown on gangs of nuisance youths, scooter boys and vandals at Kirby.

Residents' association chairman Robin Willcocks said recent grievances included young scooter riders who raced around the village.

He said several residents in Turpins Lane one of the village's Neighbourhood Watch areas had complained about the cul-de-sac being used as a rat-run for riders to get to the Triangle shopping centre at Kirby-le-Soken.

But an Essex police spokesman said: "We are opposed to any vigilante groups which take the law in their own hands."

Published Friday October 25, 2002

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