People living in a pretty seaside village revealed they "have been scared for years" after the death of a man rocked their community. Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey on the northern coast of Kent, might be ideal for beachgoers and nature lovers, but residents there say they are "scared, frustrated, and losing faith that anything will change".

On the evening of Sunday, August 10, the village of just over 930 inhabitants was rocked by the death of Alexander Cashford. The 49-year-old was found dead in the Warden Bay Road area following an altercation, and a 16-year-old girl, as well as two boys, aged 14 and 15, were charged with murder. The teenagers will be on trial in January.

Speaking to The Express, a business owner who often drives in the village says he "hasn't got out of this car in Leysdown-On-Sea for over a year" out of fear.

Putting the sudden rise in antisocial behaviour down to "a change in season for the caravan parks" the local says a death in the area wasn't a surprise "in the slightest".

The business owner says five years ago he regarded the area a safe place, however "now he would say the opposite".

He adds: "Over the last few years, anti-social behaviour and crime have increased massively.

"People have been scared for years."

Wishing not to be named for safety reasons, he says he now doesn't get out of his car in Leysdown.

"I haven't stopped and got out of the car in Leysdown for over a year. I drive through to get to my business and then leave again after", he says.

Often hailed as a hidden gem in Kent, Leysdown-On-Sea boasts beautiful beaches, but sadly, the area is facing more and more crime.

Unfortunately for residents, "drugs and vandalism have become part of the backdrop to everyday life," whilst "nuisance riders roar up and down our roads," says Conservative Councillor Tara Noe for the Sheppey East ward.

Tara tells the Express that the sudden rise in antisocial behaviour has "been impossible to ignore".

She says: "We have always had our share of problems on this end of the island, but over the past year, the rise in antisocial behaviour has been impossible to ignore.

"People are not just concerned - they are scared, frustrated, and losing faith that anything will change.

"Residents tell me they no longer see police on the streets. Reports are made, but too often, nothing seems to come of them. Meanwhile, the problems grow.

"Drugs and vandalism have become part of the backdrop to everyday life. In the past year, one of our most cherished local cafés has suffered serious damage not once, but twice."

The concerned councillor is asking the Labour government "how many more crimes have to be committed" before they take notice.

She says: "This is a small corner of the island. We should not be making the news for all the wrong reasons.

"We should be known for all we offer as a tourist area, not a place to avoid. And it is not just us. Anti-social behaviour is rising across the country.

"The fact that serious incidents are happening here, in such a small place, is a warning. The problem is deepening.

"People are doing their part - reporting incidents, speaking out, trying to reclaim our streets. But without visible enforcement, without real consequences for those who break the law, the cycle continues."

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