NEIGHBOURS living in four streets have reclaimed the alleyways behind their homes with help from Bexley Council.

Until recently residents of Harcourt Avenue, Burns Avenue and Sherwood Park Avenue in Blackfen and Footscray Lane, Sidcup, have been plagued with anti-social behaviour in the alleys.

Young people would congregate, drink alcohol, scrawl graffiti and ride motorbikes up and down.

There was also the danger of flytipping and an easy access for burglars.

But working with the council, the borough’s Community Safety Partnership stumped up £500 towards the cost of a series of gates for the alleys, with the residents contributing the rest.

It also arranged for people working on the Community Payback scheme to clean up the alleyways and paid for a skip in Burns Avenue to take away the rubbish.

Cabinet member for community affairs, Councillor Katie Perrior said: “These are excellent examples of how local communities can come together to take control of an unacceptable situation and put a stop to it.”