POLICE have been praised for cracking down on crime on the Limes Farm Estate, Chigwell.

Essex Police was slammed for its slow response to growing vandalism, intimidation and theft on the estate, blamed on young people coming into the area to escape a dispersal order in neighbouring Redbridge.

District council leader John Knapman, who previously described the area as "like a war zone", said the situation had improved "significantly" since a meeting between police and residents.

He said: "Following my criticisms of the police I would like to thank them for the special effort that's been made in response.

"A significant police presence on certain nights and arrests have certainly taken the heat out of a worrying situation and things seem to have calmed down significantly."

He said he would still like to see a more consistent police presence on the estate, particularly during the evenings, but was satisfied Essex Police was working with the Metropolitan Police to co-operate on implementing dispersal zones and anti-social behaviour orders and to avoid the displacement of crime which occurred in this instance.

Epping Forest District Council has also put in place its own plan to improve lighting in darker areas of the estate and agreed to the demolition of small walls which have acted as youth meeting points directly outside homes, following a request from ward councillor Fergus Maclaine.

Police and parish and district councillors are working together to investigate providing additional high-quality CCTV coverage of the estate, particularly at entrances.

Mr Knapman said: "There are currently areas which are pitch black at night. You're just asking for trouble. We need to find a solution.

"Another aspect that needs to be addressed is finding a place where young people can spend a couple of hours without causing residents undue aggravation."

Mr Knapman is expecting an update on the situation from Loughton police anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Trevor Newman within the next month.