Staff and councillors dread being harassed by youths as they arrive for evening meetings at Castle Point Council, a councillor has claimed.

Lionel Hart spoke following an incident in which he almost ran over a teenager who aimed his skateboard directly at his car - and warned sooner or later somebody would be seriously injured.

Mr Hart said: "The problem had virtually gone away during the winter months but now it's back with a vengeance."

He said in the most recent incident, he had arrived at the offices to be confronted by a large gang of youths outside the members' room.

He added: "He deliberately aimed his skateboard at my car - there's no two ways about it."

Mr Hart said he had called the police who had sent officers to the scene - but no arrests had been made.

He called for improved security measures at the offices, including hiring more security guards and installing closed circuit TV cameras.

Insp Chris Wood, of Benfleet police, said: "We've been running an operation since January with a view to reducing vandalism and other problems and this has had a significant impact.

"The drawback is that it was only a short term measure - the council needs to address this itself.

Chairman of the council's leisure committee, Dave Blackwell, believes the teenagers actions are a form of protest.

He said: "There is an ongoing problem and most of the youngsters are skateboarders. I think it is their way of protesting for a skateboard park.

Published Tuesday, March 26, 2002