Residents on a housing estate are fighting crime on their doorsteps by forming a Neighbourhood Watch group.

Incidents of petty crime and vandalism have been building up over the past year on the Kings End estate, in Bicester, and now residents have had enough.

A gang of up to 40 youths often gathers on a corner of grassland at the junction of Leach Road and Blenheim Drive. But now residents, the police and Cherwell District Council have got together to launch the new scheme.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Heather Ainsworth, 46, of Leach Road, said: "My fence was damaged beyond repair last summer and now they have started on another one.

"It's the noise, abuse and intimidation you get when you walk through. We want the youngsters involved to take notice. We're not going to stand for it. We have had enough."

She said there had already been signs of improvement since the scheme was launched.

Police said the area's crime rate is above average for the town.

Pc Bob Farmer has been working closely on the project with Sharon Lafferty, estates officer at Cherwell District Council, and together they have visited the homes of some of the teenagers.

They have also been working with the youth service's detach project to encourage more of the young people to meet at the Courtyard centre, in Launton Road.

Pc Farmer said: "It seems to be having an effect.

"The problem we had was the youngsters live in the area and people would not name them."