Harbour vandalism crisis

Boats have been damaged, visiting boat crews have been threatened and harbour staff have been physically assaulted and verbally abused.

The loutish behaviour could tarnish Littlehampton's image among sailing enthusiasts, board members warned, just as the multi-million pound riverside development intended to regenerate the town is nearing completion.

Board chairman Dr James Walsh, a member of Sussex Police Authority, is to contact chief constable Ken Jones with a view to holding talks about the problems, which have intensified during the school holidays.

Deputy harbourmaster David Daniels, who told Monday's meeting he had been spat at, assaulted and verbally abused by the youngsters, said he and colleagues were being called out at least twice a day to deal with the troublemakers.

At the weekend a group of around 12 youngsters had ripped down security fencing around new private moorings on the east bank and then rampaged along the pontoons, jumping on and off boats and breaking into a moored boat's cabin, where they "ran riot", said Mr Daniels.

They had also untied boats from moorings, thrown crabs at passengers on a pleasure cruiser, jumped off the river footbridge in front of boats and sworn at and intimidated people on boats.

Board chief executive John Sharwood said one group had invaded the riverside patio of one of the new houses to have a picnic, and when the owner asked them to leave, they threatened to burn the house down. A barbecue and other garden items had been thrown in the river from other waterfront properties.

Dr Walsh said: "The situation is clearly at crisis point. It is an astonishing catalogue, not only of vandalism, but of organised and intimidating behaviour."