One woman is on a mission to make her area a safer place to live.

Christine Barnacle has lived in Twydall since 1986 but says she has noticed a rise in anti-social behaviour and crimes over the past year.

The 63-year-old does a paper round from the Post Office, in Twydall Green.

While delivering papers around the green and Beechings Playing Fields, Mrs Barnacle regularly hears about ongoing issues.

She said: “People are too scared to go out of their house. It never used to be like this.

“I never leave the house after 7pm and I don’t answer my door after 6pm. I have heard lots of people do that now.

“There have been so many break ins - there was one in the chip shop and in the barber’s.

“Also people are unscrewing the number plates off cars. It’s not good.”

In October, our sister paper the Medway Messenger reported a series of issues in Twydall which ward councillors blamed on broken CCTV not acting as a deterrent.

They included the mugging of an 86-year-old woman, who was targeted after collecting her pension from the Post Office.

Hairdresser Carol Maltby also told the Messenger she was afraid to be alone in her salon after thieves smashed and stole cash from Capelli’s Hairdressers in August.

"People are too scared to go out of their house... it never used to be like this" - Christine Barnacle

Mrs Barnacle, who lives in Twydall Green, decided to set up a petition calling for a greater police presence in Twydall.

She grew ever more determined after travellers pitched up in Beechings Playing Field.

Mrs Barnacle has gained support for her campaign from businesses around Twydall Green.

She said: “I just love Twydall and I want to get it back to being a nice place to live.

“I used to work as a carer so it is in my nature to worry about people, I want everyone to feel safe again.

“I’ve been getting so many replies and great feedback from Facebook.

“I did try to do an online petition but I’m not very good at computers, so I’ve been giving out paper copies.”

She has put petitions in many shops, including the Post Office and Twydall Tandoori.

Though she has not counted the number of signatures, Mrs Barnacle says she has a whole folder of petitions.

• To sign the petition, drop into the Post Office in Twydall Green where you can find a copy.