PARENTS living in a quiet cul-de-sac have been warned they could be arrested for allowing their children to play football in the street.

After neighbours complained about children kicking balls in the road and cycling on the pavement around Rochford, police wrote to families asking them to keep their children under control.

In most roads, the appeal worked well, but two families in Wheatley Close are now protesting at being told to stop their children playing outside their own homes.

Carl North said his sons Ayron, 12, and Evan, nine, and family friend Aaron Betts, five, were just being kids.

He said: "They say I could be arrested or my wife could be arrested if they are caught riding out there again.

"It is totally ludicrous that a five-year-old can't ride his pushbike around."

Rochford's neighbourhood officer, PC Michelle Rawson, said the original complaints had been from people living in nearby Ashcombe and surrounding roads about playing football in the street, which is against the law.

As well as potential damage, people were fed up with the noise and irritation the constant thudding and shouting was causing.

A Rochford District Council sign has now been put up in Ashcombe saying: "No ball games permitted in this area."

PC Rawson said: "It is fair to say the children are breaking the law. There may have to come a time when we have to deal with it in a positive manner.

"Unfortunately, we have to say to people it's an offence and, yes, potentially the youths or their parents could be arrested.

"Wheatley Close is really cute, a lovely little close, and I believe there are a number of elderly people living there, and they don't want their peace shattered. That's reasonable.

"These activities often cause harassment, alarm and distress to residents, particularly those who are vulnerable.

"The playing of ball games in inappropriate locations is also classified by the Government as a type of antisocial behaviour."

She said police instead encourage children to play sport in parks, recreation grounds or back gardens.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said she had suffered damage caused by street football.

She added: "That has been the main problem; we've had our plants broken. But it's got a bit better since the community police got involved."

However, Nobby Clark, 81, of nearby Larkfield Close, said ball games were not as bad a problem as youngsters climbing trees.

He said: "I've had kids climb my wife's memorial tree and branches get broken off. They stand on the plaque to get up there.

"But I've seen them play cricket here and use the lamp post as a wicket."