RESIDENTS of East Malling plan to set up an action group to fight vandalism and other crimes. They claim the police are not doing enough to tackle the problems.

A car exploded into flames in The Rocks Road in the early hours last Saturday, only hours after a group of youths smashed the windows of several cars parked in the road.

Elaine Maytum, of The Rocks Road, who is leading the campaign for an action group, hopes to arrange a public meeting to discuss the issue. She said: "This burning car could have been prevented if the police had had a presence in the area. We are calling a meeting because we are fed up with the police doing nothing."

She added: "Villagers have just as much right to policing as do people who live in town centres. We are all for supporting the police but how can we when they don't seem to be supporting us. Ms Maytum said: "We're going to put a stop to it before it gets any worse."

But Gerry Richards, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for Tonbridge and Malling, said: "This was just one isolated incident that they've blown out of all proportion. I think it annoyed them that the police couldn't get a patrol car there because they were very busy."

Alison Richards, who lives in the same road, said: "It was very frightening, a car exploding in your area. Young people tend to frequent a local pub and they tend to come up through our area to where they live. I think a lot of it is drink that causes it."

Mrs Richards said: "What we're scared of is to have another crime wave, as we did a year ago." Her family's cars had their windows smashed and tyres slashed and thieves stole a £2,000 bike from their shed, she said.

A spokeswoman for Maidstone and Malling police said there had been an increase in thefts from cars and burglaries of sheds and garages in the last two weeks. She said: "We would be keen to work with residents if they want to set up a group to tackle the issues."

Police were not always able to arrest suspects because of a lack of hard evidence, she stressed.

The spokeswoman added: "People must contact us, a lot of incidents go unreported."

Residents are yet to agree a time and place for their meeting.