NUISANCE and antisocial behaviour blighting a Totteridge estate have reached such levels some residents have demanded curfews and police patrols.

In recent weeks episodes of intimidation, vandalism and under-age drinking have caused growing concern among neighbours in Tyzack Road.

Now, after a string of complaints, police have vowed to tackle the problem head on, but are urging residents to be their eyes and ears.

In a letter to homeowners, PC Paul Jervis, responsible for community policing in Totteridge, said many of the offenders live elsewhere, drifting into the area to visit others.

He said: "The appearance of some of the young people hanging about on garden walls, doing nothing constructive but spitting and foul-mouthing is at best disgusting, and reflects poorly on the whole estate.

"I've received complaints of young people intimidating residents, causing damage to cars and other property. This sort of behaviour will no longer be tolerated."

Residents have been handed police-style incident reports to log all antisocial behaviour, which can be used to build a file against individual offenders or groups.

PC Jervis has also pledged to increase the number of patrolling officers on the estate.

Barney Giles, antisocial behaviour officer at Wycombe District Council, which is actively involved in confronting nuisance neighbours, said residents can play an important part in bringing troublemakers to task.

He added: "This information allows us to arrange for a police community support officer or a youth worker to visit the area at the same time to actually talk to the young people.

"In extreme cases the information from the logs can be used to build up a case against an individual and be used as evidence against them."

But some residents are afraid guilty parties are not being held accountable and have called for tougher measures.

Marit Roben, 26, of Tyzack Road, said: "Maybe now that the summer holiday is coming up the police should introduce a curfew so the parents of the kids have to put up with their behaviour.

"Failing that, what about banning those kids who don't live on the estate from visiting after a certain time."

Michael Hawley, 43, also of Tyzack Road, added: "I think police have got to be more actively involved. It's not a laughing matter for the people that have paid to live here."