Police have been targeting the worst criminals in the town

The Safer Hastings Partnership found that 91% of residents feel safe walking alone in the town centre during the day, compared to 80% in 2001.

And at night, 31% feel safe, while in 2001, only 18% felt safe.

Sussex Police have said crime in the town has fallen, with almost 1,000 fewer victims in 2003/04 compared with the previous year.

Rowdy behaviour

Ch Supt Dick Barton said: "By concentrating our efforts on the worst criminals who cause a high percentage of suffering, we have managed to make the town a safer place.

"We can now see that fear of crime is falling."

Research showed that key contributing factors to making people feel unsafe were found to be media reports of crime, drunken and rowdy behaviour, and youths loitering.

Issues that residents were most concerned about were anti-social behaviour, violent crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and youth crime.