RESIDENTS in Pinehurst are no longer prepared to put up with anti-social behaviour blighting their neighbourhood, according to police.

A mass clean-up of the area has sparked renewed pride among those in the area which has seen a crackdown on graffiti.

Thanks to the public, one man responsible has been given a final police warning after causing "extensive damage" to a building in Clive Parade, which he covered in graffiti.

Coun Maurice Fanning said that a burgeoning community spirit is now clear for all to see.

And police said residents were determined to stand up for themselves since a clean-up day back in December.

As reported in the Adver at the time, the council, police and DVLA cleared away more than 50 bags of rubbish, cleaned 70 sites of graffiti and got rid of three dumped cars and a moped.

Community beat manager PC Vicky Floyd said: "People are coming forward now.

"They're not going to tolerate this sort of thing any more.

"The clean-up day was successful and I feel people are proud of where they live and are now taking an interest and coming forward to help us catch the people responsible to put a stop to this sort of thing.

"Since the Pinehurst enforcement day the Pinehurst Neigh-bourhood policing team have concentrated their efforts on tackling those few individuals who are responsible for spoiling the surroundings of Pinehurst."

On June 6 property at the rear of Clive Parade was covered in spray paint. The back door of a shop, a fence, lampposts, a street sign and the rear windscreen of a car were all targeted by the graffiti artists.

Police community support officers Keith Macdonald and Chloe Burke investigated the damage and identified the person responsible, who has now received a final police warning.

PC Floyd said: "It is unfortunate for the residents of Pinehurst that the mindless acts and behaviour of a small handful of individuals spoils the community surroundings for those people who live in Pinehurst.

"Tackling graffiti will continue to be one of the policing priorities of the Pinehurst policing team."

Coun Fanning (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) is attending a Neighbourhood Safety Team (NeST) meeting in Pinehurst this week.

He said: "It was quite obvious that people are no longer willing to tolerate and look the other way.

"They are actually being active and getting involved in the community and want to stop this sort of thing. People have a pride in the community at last."

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RESIDENTS living in Pinehurst say there has always been a sense of pride in the area.

John Partridge, 75, of Beech Avenue, has lived there for 43 years.

"We have always taken pride in where we live," he said.

"I have been here more than 40 years and have seen a lot of things go on but nowadays if you respect the young people they will respect you and you will not have any problems."

He added: "The police did clean up the graffiti but when you call them you have to wait ages for them to come out."

Diane Walker, a housekeeper of Beech Avenue, moved to Pinehurst from Walcot about 18 months ago.

The 40-year-old said: "Pinehurst has gone back to what it used to be like when I was a kid.

"There is a real sense of community spirit here that you don't get everywhere.

"Everyone knows each other and we all look out for each other. I think people living around here do take pride in the area, no one wants to see it look a mess."

Sue Walker, 43, of Olive Grove, said she is pleased the area has been cleaned up.

The sales assistant said: "Since all the graffiti and mess was cleared up I think people do look out for anything and report it to the police, which is a good thing."