NUISANCE students congregating in an alleyway could be moved on by police after residents complained of a recent rise in anti-social behaviour.

Homeowners have called on Churchfields Academy and local officers to curb a trend in young people hanging around in the alleyway leading to Ashwell Close.

Some residents have claimed stones have been thrown at windows, tree branches have been broken off and the footpath is littered with cigarette butts.

One 60-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, said: “They are a pain. They all smoke in the alleyway and spit even as you walk past. It’s just horrible.

“We’ve only been here for 18 months and if we lived next to the alleyway we would have sold up by now.”

Another 85-year-old resident said she was fed up with the state of the walkway but had no real trouble since one of her windows was smashed last year.

“The rubbish in the alleyway is disgusting,” she said.

“I used to say something but they just give it back.

“They are kids at the end of the day but I know people have had stones thrown at windows and they were breaking branches off the trees and hitting each other with them.”

Jim Robbins, a support worker at Churchfields Academy, said a survey of local views had raised the issue and it was being looked at.

He said: “It is something that has been pointed out to us through the survey and we will be working with the students to try and deal with it.

“We know where the problem areas are and we will try and get prefects down there to look at it, as well as teachers. We are quite happy to use our internal disciplinary procedures for things going on outside school and I would encourage residents to bring issues to the school.”

Walcot beat manager PC Nick Payne said his officers would be patrolling the area but encouraged residents to report any anti-social behaviour.

He said: “We work quite closely with the school and we are aware the issue has been raised.

“It is something the school has asked us to keep an eye on.

“We have not had many complaints come into us and I would encourage anyone who is having problems to contact us.”

To contact PC Payne call Wiltshire Police on 101.