FIVE youths were arrested after a gang of 20 youngsters attacked each other in a seafront street where residents said today they are fed up with regular late-night violence.

FIVE youths were arrested after a gang of 20 youngsters attacked each other in a seafront street where residents said today they are fed up with regular late-night violence.

Householders have written to Chief Constable Alastair McWhirter to complain about the incidents - and call for more effective policing of their area.

Rod Dennis, of Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, said he had reported 20 incidents in the past three years and had now installed CCTV to protect his home.

“That doesn't include incidents reported by my neighbours. This has gone beyond a joke and we want some proper action by the police,” he said.

“This latest incident was the worst we have had.

“It is very distressing and quite frightening for me and my 91-year-old mother - especially as these incidents are right outside our front door and her bedroom window. I am totally fed up about it all.”

In the latest incident in Undercliff Road West it is understood a fight broke out after an argument in which a teenage girl was struck with a for sale sign ripped out of a front garden.

An ambulance and around 20 police officers attended the scene on Friday night at around 11.15pm.

Mr Dennis said most incidents had happened around 2.30am as people left the nightclubs to make their way home. He had had his door smashed on one occasion.

“Our street between the leisure centre and Ordnance roundabout seems to be the way the groups leave the area,” he said.

“But the police sit in a car at the bus station where they cannot see what is happening or are 'in the area'.

“They should really be parked on the forecourt of Wilco's so they can see exactly what is happening up and down the street and act as a deterrent to any fighting or bad behaviour.”

Another householder said: “We are all fed up to the back teeth with it. You hear all this going on outside and you daren't look out - you just hope your window doesn't go in.”

A resident of Dinsdale flats said: “Fortunately we are back from the road and don't get involved, but you can hear the shouting and swearing. I wouldn't go outside here at that time of night.”

A police spokeswoman said five people were arrested - three on suspicion of threatening behaviour, one for alleged affray and one in connection with possession of an offensive weapon.

One person has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon and the other four bailed to January pending further investigations.

Officers had been on patrol in the area at the time and additional patrols were currently taking place as part of the Nightsafe project.

What do think about the situation on the seafront? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk