A £150,000-backed campaign could be launched to wage war on vandals in Maldon.

A Government grant of more than £150,000 awarded to combat drugs in the district may be used to target yobs who have been making life a misery for residents, said Insp Kevin Jacobs.

Within the past fortnight, incidents have included broken glass around the Poets Estate play area and graffiti in the Millennium Garden on Market Hill.

Now Insp Jacobs thinks the three-year instalments of £52,000 could be used to tackle the problem.

The Home Office money has already been awarded to police in the Maldon district after their CCTV bid was unsuccessful.

But it can only be spent in consultation with Maldon District Council.

A council spokesman said although no formal proposal had yet been received, the money could feasibly be spent on projects targeting vandalism, as this may have a knock-on effect on drug abuse in the area.

The Essex Youth Service, which has a branch in the town, may also be called in, after it vowed to send youth workers on to Poets Estate to find the root of the problems.

The workers believe boredom could be one of the main factors in vandalism, and are looking to create more facilities to keep teenagers occupied.

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