Problem youths who have been making life a misery for town centre residents drove one man to take matters into his own hands.

Andy Muir, 46, of Stanhope Road, Deal, found himself under arrest on Thursday after he “snapped” when he was surrounded and spat at by teenagers. He had tried to stop two drunken youths from driving away in a car.

Police have confirmed that Mr Muir was armed with an axe and he was arrested and bailed pending further investigations.

The former youth worker, who once tried to befriend the teenagers, said he was concerned for their safety when he approached them after they scaled the wall between the garden of rest and Stanhope Road car park.

“Two of them were staggering and they were going to get into a car to drive off.

“I tried to stop them and they surrounded me and started spitting at my feet."

Police have confirmed that they have stepped up their patrols as a result of residents’ complaints and alcohol has been confiscated on a number of occasions.

Mr Muir, a landscape gardener, added that he fears that something more serious might happen when youngsters are under the influence of alcohol.

South-east Kent Police spokesman Jon Green said: “We are aware groups of young people congregate in the area of the garden of rest and are seen as a nuisance.

“Patrols have been stepped up and alcohol has been confiscated on occasions."