by Lynn Cox

People living in Hoo were gobsmacked when they discovered a group of louts were so used to using a bus stop as their drinking den, they even had pizzas delivered.

Groups of young people regularly drink at the bus stop in Vicarage Lane and Friday nights seem to be their favourites.

Ron Lunn, 65, lives in the nearby Hoo Marina Caravan Park and has to put up with the noise and mess.

He said: “The teenagers regularly use the bus stop as a drinking place. They leave all their bottles and cans behind it’s such a mess the next day.

"They urinate everywhere and they also vandalise it on a regular basis. This situation has been going on for the past 18 months or so.

“They have even smashed up the sign to the caravan park.

“The noise they make is also too loud, some people have been abused by them when they ask them to quieten down. The groups who meet there even have pizzas delivered there, I’ve seen it myself and their mates are always bringing along more booze for them.

“We’ve told the police about it, but it seems there is not much they can do about it, as we’ve been told most of the youths who meet there are above the legal drinking age.

“Something needs to be done to stop them.”

Insp Simon Alland said: “These incidents are being investigated by my neighbourhood team who work in Hoo and the Peninsular.

“The team carry out regular patrols around the Vicarage Road area and have moved on groups of teenagers on numerous occasions and alcohol has been seized and disposed of.

“Every Friday a team of Special Constables also visit the area to carry out patrols and speak with local residents to back up the teams work.”

Visit www.kent.police.uk and enter your postcode to find your local officer, or call 01622 690690 for more details.