A couple say they can’t let their young son play outside at certain times because stones are being hurled into their garden by school children.

Laura and Shane Haughey’s home in Walderslade backs on to Peacock Rise, where pupils from Greenacre Academy walk home from school.

Over the past four years the couple have lost count of the number of stones thrown into their garden.

Their windows and patio door have been smashed, their neighbour’s property has been damaged, and a police community support officer was almost hit by a stone during a visit.

Their son is now 14 months old and they have stopped him from playing in the garden in the afternoons for fear of him getting hit.

Mrs Haughey said she is at the end of her tether. She contacted the Messenger this week after five stones were thrown into her garden in one day.

She said: “I have called the police up to 10 times in the last year. We are basically at our wits’ end. God forbid if one of the stones hit my son.

“I have stopped taking him in the garden in the afternoons. We only go out in the mornings. From 3pm I’m constantly on edge. It is like I’m circling my life around school times.”

The couple have had numerous dealings with the school and the police.

They have had a meeting with the deputy head and spoke to the school’s head of behaviour. Police have sent patrols, and officers have been into the school to talk to the children but nothing has changed.

Mrs Haughey added: “We are starting to feel like they will only do something about these children if some significant harm is done to us.

“It is always boys we see doing it. They just have no respect.”

Kent Police said: “The PCSO who patrols the area has been made aware and has provided support to the family, including giving advice on how to protect their home and gather evidence to identify those responsible.”

A spokesman for Greenacre Academy said: “We have no evidence to suggest it is Greenacre boys. We are working with the residents. We have sent two members of staff to see them and invited them in on two occasions to see if we can identify those responsible.

“We will continue to work with the family.”