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A residents action group formed to resist local anti-social behaviour received backing from a puiblic police forum recently and is now inviting people an open day to fight littering.

In April a group of Haverhill streets joined up and created a residents association after they all suffered from an anti-social behaviour problem that had lasted eight months.

An offender and drugs dealer well known to police moved into the area and created a lot of disorder.

The group says that, at the time, Orbit South, the housing association responsible for the scheme, failed to deal with the issue appropriately.

As a result, they say, a resident was accosted four times by the trouble-maker and others suffered psychological and emotional troubles.

They say a couple with a baby had to leave their own property and a flat had to remain empty because it was impossible to rent it out under those conditions.

Frustrated at the lack of action taken by Orbit South in dealing with this, Clements Close, Old Clements Lane, Montfort Court, Bedford Court, Beaconsfield Court and Clayhive Drive have now formed their own group to prevent it arising again. The group is now considering legal action against Orbit South.

With the support of the town mayor Cllr Roger Andre, town clerk Will Austin, Peter Dunsdon from Haverbury, several councillors and the police they are aiminhg to make their streets 'clean and safe again'.

The association, called KICS (Keep It Clean and Safe) is a non-profit association working only for the community.

At its priority setting meeting on September 9, Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) agreed to support KICS streets in the fight against anti-social behaviour after the public voted this as one of their priorities for the next three months.

KICS members are also fighting against against littering and rubbish-dumping in their area.

They are organising an awareness event on Sunday, October 6, and they would like to invite everybody to come.

Among the invited guests they are hoping to see Cllr Andrew Nunn, chairman of Suffolk Waste Partnership, whose advice would be useful.

Weather permitting, there will be a stand with information for people. The association points out that ittering, including throwing cigarette ends, is illegal and people caught can be fined.

The association's aim by the event is to show people that they care and they want to live in a clean and healthy environment. They are also hoping that this will motivate other streets to do the same.

KICS has a web page: https://plus.google.com/107899859697726563481 and is on Twitter: @KICSCB9.