A TOWN councillor has warned of vigilante attacks after a summer of anti-social behaviour at the site of a new children’s play area.

Cllr Vince McMahan issued the warning at a stormy public meeting at which the frustration and ill-feeling among Hampton residents was palpable.

More than 20 spoke unanimously of being kept awake until 3am or 4am several nights a week by gangs of youths screaming and shouting.

Some said their houses had been targeted by stone-throwing yobs. Another held up the doctor’s note that showed he had been signed off work for four weeks due to stress.

And one resident backed up Cllr McMahan’s vigilante claim in vivid terms. “I’ll take my golf clubs to them,” he said.

The problem has worsened in the weeks since the top-class play equipment officially opened at the beginning of the summer and started attracting youths late at night.

•Special report in this week's Herne Bay Gazette.