Residents and businesses on the Showfields and Ropers Gate estates in Tunbridge Wells say their lives are being plagued by vandals and hooligans.

Local councillor Peter Crawford has taken up the issue and says CCTV cameras would help crack down on the problems.

"We do need CCTV cameras to keep the community running, because if we don't have that we will lose local businesses," he said.

'Too expensive'

Since he was elected to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council two years ago, the councillor has received countless letters from residents complaining of vandalism and graffiti.

The local library on the Showfields estate is a frequent target, and has had most of its windows barred or replaced with plastic.

The community centre next door is also about to undergo a �400,000 refurbishment, with CCTV high on its list of priorities.

But the council's head of community affairs, Councillor Peter Davies, says adding the estates to the town's extensive camera network is technically difficult and expensive.

He says the areas will soon have their own uniformed police community support officer, and neighbourhood watch schemes.