RESIDENTS have been refused permission to buy a piece of community green space in their attempts to beat the yobs - for fear it would lead to a flood of similar requests.

Residents in Wisbech Close and Barford Close, Hartlepool said they were tired of gangs disrupting their peace at night, with drinking, drug-taking and sexual activity only yards from their homes.

They said youths were congregating on a pathway and landscaped area that ran between the back of the two closes, keeping them awake at night and causing vandalism.

The solution, they believed, was for them to buy the land and extend all of their back gardens, making the area no longer accessible to anyone.

But at Hartlepool Borough Council's planning committee yesterday, it became apparent that not all residents were in agreement over the problems in the quiet Fens neighbourhood.

The meeting heard that a 1,000-name petition had been submitted against the proposal, and it was claimed the residents complaining about anti-social behaviour were "grossly exaggerating" the truth so as to extend their gardens.

But Mrs Allen, of Barford Close, spoke on behalf of the applicants and said many of the incidents were serious and police had been called several times.

She said the path was an escape route for vandals and a drug den and toilet for yobs.

"It's very stressful for us and we feel our quality of life and privacy has been seriously eroded," she said.

But pensioner Bill Picken, who lives next to the open space, said his view was different. "Talk about gilding the lily," he said.

"We have experienced things over the years, but nothing that made us want the path closed. I have only made one phone call (to police) since the Eighties.

"They want the land and if I wanted the land, I would be making a good case for it, too. The open space is essential to the enjoyment of residents."

A police officer at the meeting confirmed there had been a number of complaints and backed the path's closure.

As did local councillor Geoff Lilley who said: "The problems the residents have encountered are not new, they have been in evidence since 1984."

But Councillor Edna Wright said approving the application would "open up the floodgates" from scores of residents across the town.

Councillor Pauline Laffey agreed. She said: "The issue is not the path or alley - the problem is the behaviour. Where does it end?"