FURIOUS residents are demanding action to stop a wave of vandalism in their town.

Youngsters hanging around the Mill Road and Brook Street area of Northumberland Heath have targeted the empty Northumberland Heath Primary School, the new library and neighbouring pop-in parlour.

An angry Bert Taylor told last week's Bexley police community consultative group that even the roof of the old school building was covered in graffiti.

“It is mass vandalism. Now they have moved to the pop-in parlour and the library, smashing windows and scrawling graffiti,” he said.

He blamed Bexley Council for much of the problem. “The council took away the youth centre from the area. It promised a new drop-in centre at the old library, but the building is still all boarded up.”

Mr Taylor said vandalism at the pop-in parlour was so bad, pensioners did not want to go there.

Police were called to the area on September 21 after receiving 10 calls from the public, and several arrests were made. They were called again on September 25.

People who live in the area say the problems have escalated in recent months.

Bexleyheath police says it is aware of the problem and its community policing team is putting together an action plan.

Bexley Council says it has completed negotiations with a housing association to demolish the old school buildings and sell the land for redevelopment. It is about to put the demolition contract out to tender.

A spokesman said Northumberland Heath's youth centre was still operating from the former lodge and there is £90,000 in this year's council budget for the conversion of the library. It hopes to start work on the drop-in centre in the spring.

“We haven't closed anything. In fact we've increased youth provision in the area,” he added.