A group of youths labelled the “catapult kids” have been using playground equipment as a “watchtower” and leaving residents scared to walk past, a councillor has warned.

It comes amid a year-long spate of anti-social behaviour in the Trinity Road area of Kennington, in Ashford.

Since last August, bus shelters, street lights and windows have been smashed by the “feral youths”.

Recently, the trouble has centred around the play area near Goat Lees Primary School. A child was allegedly shot with a BB gun at the park earlier this month.

Now Ashford Borough Council is installing a temporary CCTV camera to monitor the area.

Independent ward councillor Winston Michael told KentOnline: “I am very worried about the safety of residents. The path which runs alongside the park is widely used, but residents are saying to me they no longer feel safe and that is a concern.

“Some residents have also told me that when they have been walking their dogs in the twilight hours, they have seen kids with catapults and even during the day, firing catapults at birds.

“They tend to gather in the back corner of the park. They also stand on this piece of equipment, it’s like a watchtower.

“We are now reaching August as the schools break up and I am bracing myself on whether we are going to see an increase in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity as the kids have got nothing to do.”

He added he is keen to get a skatepark in the area to give the young people somewhere to go in the holidays.

Kent County Council representative for Ashford, Paul Bartlett, agrees additional lighting and CCTV cameras are needed.

“We do not want things to escalate,” he said.

“I think these will help to improve the quality of life for residents in this marvellous area.

“We noticed a spike in antisocial behaviour in the lower high street when the schools went on strike so we are very aware that we have the schools breaking up for the summer holidays.”

Cllr Liz Wright (Green) added: “We need safe places for people to go and probably more activities for young people to have to do.”

Kent Police volunteer Peter New, said the spike in antisocial behaviour in Kennington resulted in a week-long police operation and more proactive police activity and patrols.

“The problem is caused by a few feral youths some of which may not actually reside in Kennington,” he said.

“Of course, CCTV and lighting is the way forward firstly to prevent this conduct but then to identify the criminals.

“The behaviour is appalling, firing catapults at people's houses, at defenceless animals, occasionally at people, breaking windows and causing distress and financial hardship.

“I struggle because these youths are only causing problems for their own community and residents – many of which are struggling to meet all the bills and keep their heads above water in these difficult times. They are hitting their own!”

Peter New is now urging residents to report every incident so a crime number can be obtained and issues can be followed up with the police.

“We can hold the police to account and ask for progress on crimes reported,” he said.

“If 10 people see youths with catapults I need 10 calls made. The volume of calls attracts responses.

“These feral youths need identifying and action taken.”

Kennington now has a police beat officer who is “working tirelessly” and has already impacted a number of issues in the area.

In February, streetlamps were smashed leaving the pavements shattered in glass, with residents saying they felt unsafe when walking down the streets amid fears the “catapult kids were back”.

In December last year, Stagecoach bosses made the decision to stop running the B line after 5pm after a bus window was smashed.

Ashford Borough Council told KentOnline they will be deploying a temporary CCTV camera to monitor the area and assess whether more permanent coverage is needed.