A damning report has blamed children as young as seven for much of the trouble at Greenstead, Colchester - and their mums and dads for having "poor parental control".

The condemnation comes from a meeting called to discuss problems with vandalism and teenagers gathering on the estate, particularly at its shopping parades.

It was called at the request of shopkeepers who were fearful for their properties and concerned about crime such as shoplifting.

In the report back to Colchester Council, shopping centres, like the Hunwicke Road parade, were labelled "magnets" for groups of youngsters with little else to do.

And it was claimed the young people who "cause most difficulties are young - some as young as seven or eight".

The meeting went on to conclude: "Poor parental control is a major factor with some of these very young children active in the area until the early hours each day."

Greenstead has historically suffered the results of having large groups of youngsters with little to do, but various initiatives in the past, including Health for Greenstead, have tried to improve the situation.

This latest meeting was intended as an information gatherer and a springboard for improving the situation.

Last year the estate's bobby PC Sheila Foster tried to set up a self-help group for parents to get advice on coping with troublesome children but not one person turned up to the meetings.

Traders at Hunwicke Parade have already called for CCTV to curb the problems and Colchester Council is considering this.

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