Residents in a Cricklewood street raided by police last week have told how the area has been blighted by prolific drug use, crime and violence for two years.

Drug users regularly steal from residents using the proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin, Garth Road residents claim.

On Friday, as police raided three addresses in Garth Road and Cloister Road, those living there spoke of a climate of fear in which crime is a daily occurrence and dirty syringes litter the street, which also houses a children's health clinic.

Anne Okagbare, 43, who lives in Garth Road, said: "You don't feel like you can lead a normal life. There's a siege mentality now. When you come home you put your key in the lock and just pray that you haven't been cleaned out.

"You can't leave any windows open or they'll break in. Even if you just go upstairs, you have to make sure eveything's locked. Sometimes that doesn't make a difference, because they take out the whole window."

The cycle of drug use and crime has reached such proportions that one fifth of all burglaries in Barnet are now committed in the area around Garth Road, according to police.

And the spate shows no sign of easing. The number of burglaries in the area has increased by 35 per cent on the same period last year.

The residents believe their road is seen as an easy target for burglars from neighbouring areas.

Mrs Okagbare recently saw two men steal a plasma screen TV from her neighbours in broad daylight.

Both Barnet Council and police are aware of the problem. The council has put extra locks on houses, but has so far proved unsuccessful in evicting their problem tenants.

Mrs Okagbare added: "You try to do the right thing and stand up to these people, but who's going to protect us when the police leave?

"These people are very violent when they're on drugs. Do they have to kill one of us before someone does something?

"It's time people stopped burying their heads in the ground. We need to stand up to this together."

Mo Etiyaii, 50, also of Garth Road, has been the victim of an assault outside his home. Along with other residents he is trying to set up weekly meetings to find ways to counter crime.

He said: "If the council doesn't do something about it, we're going to build a gate across the road and only allow residents in."