Fed-up shop owners in Benfleet have joined forces in an effort to combat the ever-increasing threat of vandalism in the area.

In recent months, windows have been smashed and skips have been set on fire along Church Road.

Now worried store owners have decided to act. In a partnership between the shops and police, a new Shopwatch scheme has been launched which they hope will reduce crime and improve the general look of the area.

Les Bramhill, crime reduction adviser, who proposed the idea, said: "It is a double-edged sword situation because if we make a place cleaner then crime is less likely to happen."

Meetings will be held on a regular basis between store owners where they will discuss ideas to prevent crime. They also plan to remain in regular contact with each other, should they see any suspicious characters.

The group already has one idea ready for implementation according to Charlotte McCormick, chairman of the Shopwatch committee.

She said: "We have written to the council requesting a shopping precinct similar to that in Thundersley village with lovely paving. That would be a great first step.

"Shopwatch is not just about preventing vandalism but is about tidying up the area as a whole.This is a nice place, our customers are lovely, so we would like to make it nicer for everyone."

Alerting shop owners - Charlotte McCormick and Ruth Chapman

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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