Five stabbings in three weeks have left people in one Kent town “scared” and fearing for their safety at night.

Ramsgate has been blighted by a recent spate of knife crime, with scenes of violence erupting in and around Harbour Street and the seafront.

Some locals say they avoid walking home for fear of being attacked, with one bar worker revealing she keeps her "keys in one hand and a lighter in the other, just in case".

But others insist the town is still safe and have applauded police for stepping up patrols.

The five recent stabbings all happened in the space of 19 days.

On March 18 a man was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the arm in Harbour Parade.

A week later a brawl erupted at a kebab shop in King Street shortly after 2am, leaving a man wounded.

Just hours before, a taxi driver was stabbed and robbed of his money in nearby Margate Road.

The most recent incident happened on April 6, when two men were knifed following a disturbance in Harbour Street.

Samantha Berry is the landlady of The Horse and Groom pub in Charlotte Court, just behind Harbour Street.

She believes it is only a matter of time before she sees fewer people through the door.

"The crime will affect business eventually,” she told KentOnline.

"Already people don’t go down the seafront as much as they used to, and especially along Harbour Street.

"It’s a lot quieter so businesses are going to struggle; not just hospitality, but all businesses.

"I’ve got teenage children, so when they go out in the evening it’s definitely worrying, and I worry about my staff leaving work.

"The police are good during the day-time but in the evenings they aren’t there."

Fay Breyer works as a barmaid at The Crown pub in nearby York Street, and has to walk home from work between midnight and 1am.

“Crime has got a lot worse,” she said.

"I absolutely worry and I walk home with keys in one hand and a lighter in the other, just in case.

"Not that anyone has been brave enough to attack me just yet, but the threat is always there and it’s always a worry."

The 32-year-old has worked at pubs in the town centre for the past six years.

"I’m a female on my own, and on the last three or four consecutive weekends, somebody has been hurt,” she said.

"If I was younger I wouldn't walk."

Lesley Walters, who manages Mariners Bar in Harbour Parade, says the business has yet to be impacted by crime fears, but she believes it could be in the future.

"I've worked in Ramsgate for about 30 years and I’ve seen the town change massively,” she said.

"Youngsters seem to have more disposable income for drinking now; they seem to have money to go out and drink in abundance.

"It’s still a safe place to go out, but obviously have your wits about you though - never walk home.

The mum-of-three is also "massively worried" for her children.

"My twins are 15 and I’m very strict," she said.

"They don’t go out late at night at all.

"My eldest is just back from university for the Easter holidays and she works in a bar, so when she does late-night closes I think 'oh my god' and tell her to stay on the phone with me until she gets home.

"In that respect I worry more, and I worry what life’s going to be like for them as time goes on in this area - it’s scary."

There were 153 crimes recorded in Ramsgate’s Central Harbour ward in February - the most since last summer - with 53 of them for violent and sexual offences.

But Toby Foster, who owns Enoteca Bar in Harbour Parade, is not concerned about safety in the town and does not foresee a drop in trade.

"I have not seen an effect on business at all,” said the 48-year-old.

"It's scaremongering - Ramsgate is incredibly safe.

"People say the stabbings are bar-related, but most of these kids don't go into bars and definitely don't get into my bar.

"I have an 18-year-old son, and I'm happy for him to go out in the town.

"I wouldn't deter him from going out on the seafront."

Mr Foster also believes the seaside area is safer now than in the past, saying he sees "far fewer issues and problems now than 10 or 15 years ago".

"It is really unfortunate what’s happened,” he added. “It’s not a great situation for Ramsgate and I understand people's concerns - but it has nothing to do with late-night bars."

However, Ramsgate resident Kitty Webb says she has seen the town change "and not for the better".

“It’s down to drinking and the youths having nowhere to go - there’s no clubs or anything, so they just congregate and make trouble and start getting bored and fight,” she said.

"The knife crime is very scary and very worrying but it’s not just Ramsgate - it's a general thing everywhere."

Ms Webb, who has lived in the area for 40 years, continued: "It’s changed and not for the better.

"I’m embarrassed when people come down here on holiday to certain parts."

Another resident, Sandra Igwe, is also concerned about the recent violence.

"It does worry me if we are not safe,” said the 25-year-old nurse.

"Even though I’m not a night person, sometimes we just want to go out - especially during the summer.

"If I won't be safe of course it’s a big worry, because there are people who do go out at night and it is terrible news to hear that people are victims of one crime or the other.

"So, if anything can be done to cope with it, it will do society a lot of good."

Mayor of Ramsgate Raushan Ara, who also owns Ramsgate Tandoori in Harbour Street, says she "wants to send out the message" that the town is a safe place to live.

"There has been lots of action taken by the police department,” said the Labour councillor.

"I’ve seen more police presence in the evening and they are more visible at the moment.

"There is that worry for every business, but we have the community of traders working together to protect each other.

"I’ve spoken to the community officer and she is already speaking to me about it and listening to our concerns and is trying her best to support us in every way possible."

Cllr Ara's business is "running as usual" despite the recent spike in crime, and enjoyed a successful Easter weekend.

"Usually on a bank holiday the trouble comes, but we had a very peaceful weekend," she said.

"I want to send the message out to the public and the community that the police have a presence around and they are taking action."

Police say they have stepped up patrols following the recent attacks, for which people have been arrested and charged.

Supt Rob Marsh, of the East Kent Divisional Command, said: "Police understand that Ramsgate residents may be alarmed by reports of three assaults in the town centre at night-time in recent weeks.

"Our officers made quick arrests following all three incidents, with a total of six people charged and remanded into custody ahead of court proceedings relating to separate assaults on March 18 and March 25.

"Four other people have been arrested in relation to a further separate incident on April 6 and I am confident that our ongoing investigation will bring any offenders involved to justice.

"We currently have an increased police presence in Ramsgate and continue to work with licensees and partner agencies to keep the town safe and protect the community.

"Our new neighbourhood policing model will see extra police officers moved into neighbourhood policing, with the introduction of dedicated task forces working directly with the public to tackle issues within their local communities."