Residents in Portslade are calling on police to take action over young arsonists they say are making their lives miserable.

People living in south Portslade claim a group of youngsters are vandalising and setting fire to property across the area.

They say it's too dangerous to let their children play in Vale Park in the evening because of youths who gather there.

One 49-year-old resident, who asked not to be named, said: "All around Portslade there is a group of kids vandalising things.

"I witnessed the toilets at Vale Park being set alight and the bottle bins have also been burnt out there.

"Last weekend, garages with paint in them at the back of Tesco were set on fire. The cans of paint were just exploding. I saw the same group of youngsters sitting by the fire laughing.

"Last night, at about 7pm, I was in my back garden when I heard someone say, 'That will burn well'.

"I saw the same group of youths. They had kicked in my neighbours' back gate.

"I phoned the police but they did not come out. It is frightening."

The woman's elderly neighbour, whose gate was vandalised, said: "This is scary as my husband and I are not active and cannot move around quickly. We do not feel safe any more."

A 31-year-old woman living nearby said her husband would no longer let her stepchildren play in Vale Park on their own because of the youth problem.

She said: "There are a lot of kids hanging around the area at the moment acting like hooligans. We need a police presence around the area."

She said on one visit to the park she found condoms and saw a father removing razor blades and pins which had been shoved into the climbing frame.

Police confirmed the incidents had been reported.

Chief Inspector Peter Mills said: "This problem has been referred to the local beat officer and patrols will be increased in this area.

"If these children are identified, they are liable for criminal damage and possible antisocial behaviour issues."