POLICE were trying to calm unrest in a shopping parade today after four days of trouble that has left shop owners and residents furious.Officers were due to speak to residents in streets near Queen's Way in Ipswich today in search of evidence of anti-social behaviour, which has already resulted in six arrests.

POLICE were trying to calm unrest in a shopping parade today after four days of trouble that has left shop owners and residents furious.

Officers were due to speak to residents in streets near Queen's Way in Ipswich today in search of evidence of anti-social behaviour, which has already resulted in six arrests.

In the early hours of this morning a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle.

The unrest is believed to be linked to a dispute between shop owners and children.

One shop owner told the Evening Star that children targeted his shop after he refused to give them free food.

He claimed eggs had been thrown at his shop and windows damaged.

"I'm scared, I can't sleep," he said. "This is Ipswich, not Texas."

Police were called to Queen's Way on Friday afternoon after a disagreement at a shop in the parade.

Two arrests were made and a further three were made over the weekend as the trouble continued.

Another shop owner, who refused to be named for fear his shop would also be targeted, said security equipment outside his shop had been damaged and a wall pulled down.

He said police officers were doing a good job but were unable to prevent the children from running amok.

"The second I say something they're going to set alight the bins or break the windows," he said.

"For the last three days there's been a lot of children up and down (the street).

"Everybody has had enough."

Priory Heath Ward councillor Bradley Maguire said he planned to meet with shop owners in an attempt to find a solution to the problems.

"It's a totally out of control situation. But it is not everyone, it is a small number of ringleaders," he said.

"The shop owners are suffering, I can see some of them closing down."

A resident from nearby Packard Avenue said some people were now too scared to use the shops in Queen's Way.

"It's just disgusting," he said.

"I've lived here for 16 years and I've never seen anything like this. We've had enough."

Inspector Dave Dring from Suffolk Constabulary said: "Anti-social behaviour has concerned us in certain areas and this whole episode over the last couple of days is a result of that.

"We will provide extra resources to the area in the short term so we can prevent these things from happening."

Inspector Dring said police would consider making use of new dispersal order powers to crack down on anti social behaviour in the area.

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