A RISCA resident claims years of anti-social behaviour has left her neighbours scared to leave their homes.

Patricia Billings, aged 51, said her neighbours in Holly Road feel intimidated and frightened due to the behaviour of some individuals.

Miss Billings, who has lived in Holly Road for 13 years, said Caerphilly County Borough Council is not doing enough to make residents feel safe.

“Why should we have to live like this?”, she said. “We’re scared to live on our own street.

“The council aren’t doing anything. It’s been reported to the council but they’re not doing their job.

“Sometimes I feel scared, it can be very scary here because we don’t even know what’s going to happen the next moment.”

Miss Billings said the residents had witnessed cars driving at speed up and down the road, vandalism, smashed windows and doors and have been victims of intimidation.

“Over time, it’s got worse,” she said. “It needs to be solved big time. People are feeling vulnerable. They don’t want to be feeling like that but its idiots causing the problems.

“I was scared at a time but I’m not anymore. I’m speaking out.”

Miss Billings said she was shocked to hear of an assault in Holly Road on Monday night, which left a man with head injuries.

A man was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Risca Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Thomas said: “Anti-social behaviour is an issue that Gwent Police and Caerphilly Council take very seriously.

“It can involve many things including damage to property, drunkenness, aggressive dogs, noisy or abusive neighbours to name but a few. Such a wide range of behaviours means that responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour is shared between a number of agencies including the police, councils and social landlords.

“Gwent Police continue to work jointly with our partners such as the local authority’s Community Safety Wardens and Crime Prevention Panels to prevent and reduce these sort of problems.

“We promote initiatives and advice with the use of marketing, OWL and social media and all crimes that are reported to us are investigated.

"In the last month, we have had three reported incidents on Holly Road in Risca, which will be fully investigated by our officers.”

A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The council, along with other key agencies in the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, works hard to reduce levels of crime and disorder, anti social behaviour, substance misuse and fear of crime across the Caerphilly county borough area.

"Our Community Safety Wardens and CCTV operators work tirelessly alongside colleagues at Gwent Police and other partners to address issues identified by the community".

Gwent Police said anyone affected by anti-social behaviour and feels at an immediate risk should call 999.

If it is a continual issue and there is no immediate risk call 101.