Families say they are living in fear due to a "lawless" alleyway behind their homes being used by flashers, arsonists, thieves and vandals.

Residents in Coombe Drive, Sittingbourne, no longer feel safe using their gardens due to youths starting deliberate fires and using catapults to pelt stones at their windows.

Great-grandad Clive Beach was sitting in his garden earlier this year when a large stone struck him on the head.

The 70-year-old, who has lived in his home for the last 40 years, said: "My family and I were having a cup of tea in my garden.

"All we could hear was bang, bang bang as they were throwing stones into the garden and then suddenly one hit me and cut all my head open.

"I reported it but I have grandchildren, great grandchildren.

"If the little baby had been in a pram and the stone had hit them it would have killed her."

Clive believes the stones are being launched over his, and the other neighbours' fences, with catapults.

Not only are they hitting people but also damaging windows.

Dad-of-six Terrence Glover, who lives next door to Clive, had a stone hit his window last weekend.

The 73-year-old said: "We want the back alley shut off so people can't walk along there.

"This has been going on for years and no-one but those looking for trouble use the footpath so it should be closed to stop this damage."

Terrence has lived in his home for 28 years.

His rear downstairs window was chipped as a result of the stone throwing.

He said: "I was planning to build a conservatory but now I don't want to bother, I've had three stones thrown at my house."

It isn't just the stone hurling that worries the residents.

Fence and foliage fires have been started deliberately down the alley.

Terrence's wife discovered pieces of paper wedged between their fence before they could be set on fire.

However, some other Coombe Drive homeowners haven't been so lucky.

On Thursday, September 22, two fire engines were called to a blaze behind Coombe Drive.

The fire involved a large amount of cut trees and logs which residents believe were situated on land owned by Network Rail, this is on the other side of the alley.

Clive said: "It is lawless, people come home and see the fire brigade parked up putting out flames.

"We're frightened to to go on holiday or leave our homes, you just don't know what you'll face when you come back."

Murston's Swale Independents Alliance councillor, James Hall, revealed numerous other crimes had also been reported.

He said: "Children and youths have been reported climbing over fences and also throwing stones at the trains as they go by.

"Someone even managed to get on top of someone's shed from the alley and then proceeded to take their trousers down and flash an elderly woman who lives along here.

"After another fire on someone's fence, people went into the garden and stole outdoor furniture from the property.

"There's loads of rubbish and flytipping down the alley as well, it is a breeding ground for rats.

"We all want this alleyway closed to the public."

One resident of Coombe Drive, who did not wish to be named, has spent £400 on security cameras after his third floor window was smashed.

Another resident, who also didn't wish to be named, returned home to see five youths in his garden.

Cllr Hall added: "The people that live in this area are of the older generation.

"They're supposed to be enjoying their later lives but they can't why this torment continues."

Clive has had to make several repairs to his own fence after part of it was ripped down.

He said: "We've also reported this to the council but we're not getting anywhere with anything.

"I've not heard anything from anyone and it's not right.

"It is out of my expense that I am continuing to have to repair all our fences.

"What we should do really is charge the council for all our repairs and the windows.

"Why should we have to pay extra money on our insurance because we're claiming for our windows being smashed and things like that."

The residents were unsure about who exactly owned the public footpath.

Kent County Council confirmed it is nothing to do with them, despite the fact it was them who installed anti-motorbike barriers many years earlier.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Between August 1, 2020 and September 27, 2022, crews have been called to eights reports of grass or woodland fires in Coombe Drive, in Murston, Sittingbourne.

"It’s believed four of these incidents were started deliberately.”

Network Rail said: “We’re always looking for ways to improve the security of the railway and we would be delighted to work with local authorities in Swale to achieve that in Murston, while making sure our people have still got access to lineside equipment in the area.”

District Commander for Swale, Chief Inspector Sarah Rivett, said: "We are aware of residents’ concerns about antisocial behaviour and damage caused by a small number of young people who use an alleyway at the rear of Coombe Drive in Murston.

"The most recent report we received this year was an arson to a fence on August 5.

"We were also notified of incidents on April 9, and June 20, when stones were reported to have been thrown at a property.

"Our officers are currently working closely with Swale Borough Council to identify improvements that can be made to in the area to discourage crime and antisocial behaviour.

"It is really important that anyone affected by this illegal activity makes their concerns known to us so we can deploy our resources effectively."

Incidents can be reported on the Kent Police website here.

A spokesman for Swale council said: “We’re working with local police to gather evidence so we can take action to put a gate on this alleyway.

"There is a legal process to go through and we’re grateful to residents who have been reporting issues which supports this process.

“If anyone does witness a crime, they should report it to the police to take action.”