A CONCERNED Rubery resident fears problems with under-age drinking and teenage vandals is getting worse because of a lack of police presence in the village.

Chris Ruston, of Callowbrook Lane, has been a victim of 'louts' who have damaged his garden wall and railings and targeted his neighbours by kicking in their fences.

The dad-of-two said because the police station, in New Road, is only manned until 10pm, and sometimes just until 5pm, the youngsters know there is no control over them.

Mr Ruston claims police officers have to come from other areas including Worcester, Bromsgrove and Redditch, which can take up to half an hour.

He said: "Youngsters are growing up round here knowing they can get away with anything.

"When we call the police, if we do get any attendance, the incident is over by the time they get here and the offenders have disappeared.

"The problem is getting worse particularly in Callowbrook Lane and Rea Avenue and residents don't feel safe any more.

"I want to see our police station manned 24 hours a day with zero tolerance for this type of loutish behaviour."

Sgt Jerry Reakes-Williams, of Bromsgrove police, said: "It is not a police officer's job to man a station, it is done by a counter clerk.

"When a counter clerk is at the station it does not mean the nearest available police officer will be in Rubery.

"All calls go through Redditch control and when the station is not manned the telephone outside the building can be used.

"We have a response time for 999 emergency calls which is ten minutes to urban areas or 20 minutes to rural zones.

"All other calls are dealt with appropriately."