RESIDENTS in Pitsea claim antisocial footballing youths are making their lives a misery.

They say for the past three years, large groups of teenage boys have been setting up goal posts on a small green, near their homes in Broomfields Court, Broomfields Place, and Moretons, Pitsea.

The residents claim 27 footballs have been kicked into their gardens since January and no one ever asks for them back.

They are so fed up with balls being kicked at their fences, crashing into their windows and landing in one resident's garden pond, allegedly killing her fish, they asked the Pitsea neighbourhood policing team and Basildon Council to intervene.

One retired resident, who was too frightened to be named, said: "I've got 12 balls in my garden at the moment.

"The boys never ask for them back, so they obviously know they are in the wrong. There are no ball games' signs on the green.

"When I asked them to stop, they told me to shut up.

"I know a lot of the residents feel really intimidated by them.

"I've had a pacemaker fitted and I'm too scared to talk back."

Another resident, who asked not to be identified, said: "In the summer they can be out there shouting and swearing from ten in the morning to ten at night.

"They eff and blind and make our lives a misery. Their language is appalling."

Sgt Gavin Brook said Pitsea neighbourhood policing team had spoken to the boys accused of playing football and their families.

He said: "Their parents said if there were any more problems, the residents should tell them and they will make sure it stops.

"We will be going down there again over the weekend, to see what can be done."