A couple have told how anti-social behaviour forced them to leave their home and move into a bed and breakfast.

Peter and Pauline Simmons moved to Foresight Road, Colchester, about a year ago.

But due to anti-social behaviour the couple left their three-bedroom council house in January and moved into bed and breakfast accomodation while they found a new home.

The couple claim they suffered a catalogue of problems including:

Verbal abuse and bad language

Property damage, including slashed car tyres and house windows smashed

Property broken into

Mr Simmons said: "Our shed got broken into, the car was damaged and we had abuse shouted at us.

"And it wasn't just us. The whole street was affected. Other people had trouble and their property was vandalised.

Mrs Simmons added the problems began to affect their children's health.

The couple visited Colchester MP Bob Russell at his advice bureau for constituents on Saturday and he has promised to take the situation up with Colchester Council.

Peter Carrington, community safety co-ordinator for Colchester Council, said the situation of anti-social behaviour was one which had to be tackled through a multi-agency approach.

Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003

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