TEENAGERS having sex in public, drug deals and fireworks being thrown at shops.

That's the near daily experience residents claim they are being forced to endure in one area of Gravesend.

The anti-social activities are commonplace in Mackenzie Way, Gravesend, according to people who live and work in the area.

They say youths congregating outside a parade of shops in the road are causing misery for everyone else.

And when The Gravesend Messenger went to investigate a reporter was jeered at and had her car pelted with stones by a gang of around 10 teenagers.

Neighbourhood representative Mike Reeves says the situation is getting out of control.

He said: “The depth of feeling that I have come across about this is incredible.”

Mr Reeves said residents had told him they had come across people having sex in stairwells; had seen cars driving up and obviously selling drugs to teenagers and heard numerous reports of racial abuse.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had called the police time and time again but felt nothing was being done to help.

Now a meeting is being orgainised to find a solution to the problem, which one mother of three described as being more about the youngsters not having anywhere else to go.

Cllr Andrea Webb, lead member for community health and wellbeing, said: “We deplore any attacks or abuse against residents or businesses in the borough, and we urge anyone to report such incidents immediately to the police.

“If any resident or business wants to discuss particular concerns with the council, they are welcome to speak to a member of our Community Safety Team via 01474 564422.

“The meeting on November 22 will give residents the chance to make their concerns known directly to both the police and the council, and we welcome this opportunity for such feedback.”

PC Helen Lamb agreed people needed to communicate their issues: “Having patrolled the area for three years there has been a significant improvement in anti-social behaviour and street level crime. There have been recent incidents that the police are aware of and are investigating.

"The youths that do gather in the park area are normally well-behaved and myself and PCSO Dave Davis talk to them on a regular basis.”

However, Gravesham MP Adam Holloway believes the problem can only be solved by increased policing in the area.

He said: “Residents have twigged to the fact there is an inadequate amount of community police officers and a politically correct attitude that makes it impossible to do anything about the problem.”