RESIDENTS in a new block of council apartments have spoken of their disappointment after teenagers were captured on film tearing out new plantings in a community garden on the Seabrooke Estate in Grays this evening (Monday, 20 July) – but they have praised a group of parents of the children who later attended and apologised for their children's anti-social behaviour.

The youngsters were instructed to clean up the mess they had made.

The incident took place to the rear of the new Alma Court block of flats, which was only recently opened up to its new tenants. Children engaged in a 'flower fight' – tearing out shrubs and small trees as they swarmed around the rear of the 15 storey Arthur Toft House block of flats.

Thurrock Nub News attended the incident but our reporter was threatened and told to leave by a group of residents from homes off Exmouth Road. His camera was taken and pictures and a video deleted by a resident on threat of it being destroyed. It was eventually returned, minus the evidence. The residents refused to accept that the area was a public place and the reporter, who produced police-recognised ID, was entitled to film there.

We had been alerted by film of the incident being posted on social media which was accompanied by comments from some new residents about the problems they are already experiencing – while existing tenants of the nearby flats and homes have also spoken of their concern about the area – which late evening anti-social behaviour which includes fireworks being let off.

It is reported that a formal complaint about anti-social behaviour will be made to the area's caretaker service tomorrow by some residents in the new block.