A COMMUNITY has set up a neighbourhood watch scheme to try to combat ongoing problems with vandalism and trespassers.

Neighbours in North Hinksey say they have become so annoyed by teenagers persistently breaking into their back gardens they have joined forces to keep an eye on each others properties.

The residents, whose homes all back on to the Louie Memorial Fields, say the area has become a magnet for youths who drink alcohol and damage equipment in a new £65,000 play area.

Residents from Lime Road, Arnold’s Way, Hurst Rise Road and Cedar Road met local police officers to form the group.

Nicola Carter, of Cedar Road, said: “People have been very frightened and have felt intimidated.

“The problems come and go but neighbours say the vandalism happens almost every day in the summer.

“People feel scared and they think they’ve got to do something about it. Some people don’t like talking to the police and feel they could become a target for further vandalism so I think this will help enormously.”

Residents will still report incidents to the police but will also keep their own log of crimes and help their neighbours by monitoring their homes, especially if the occupant is out or away on holiday.

Mrs Carter said the fields had been beset by vandalism in recent years with yobs repeatedly breaking into a changing hut for local sports teams as well as stealing benches and garden ornaments from residents’ gardens.

In November 2008, North Hinksey Parish Council was forced to spend £3,700 installing bollards around the fields to stop vehicles driving on the playing fields.

That did not stop thieves ramming a stolen van through gates and crashing it into the Botley skate bowl last September.

The damage was estimated at £20,000 – and too expensive to repair.

Mrs Carter said: “That was a very serious incident and was an extremely hot fire which burned dangerous chemicals into the bottom of the bowl. A lot of the money for that skate park was funded by local people.”