ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in Grays Town Centre is not improving but getting worse- according to Grays and District Conservative Club.

The club say that despite statements made by the police that the situation outside their club, on Clarence Road, they are still plagued by drunks loitering around by the entrance.

A spokesman for the club said: “The situation remains the same, if not worse.

“Our stewardess is constantly on the phone to the police requesting that they remove these drunks from outside our front doors so that members can gain access.

“It is a disgusting situation.”

He added: “These drunks continue to have egg fights and water fights amongst themselves, and heaven help anyone who gets in their way.

“The street was littered with egg debris only last week and the adjacent shop shutters were covered in their mess.

“The police come by, remove them and within 10 to 15 minutes they are back.”

The police and Thurrock Council are currently working to get an alcohol free zone order established for the town, which if enacted would mean that anyone found drinking alcohol on the street would have it confiscated.

Essex Police’s Insp John French, the Neighbourhood Inspector for Grays, said: "We have recently run some successful operations on the High Street, including Op Mercer which saw 29 arrests in total when it ran in May and August.

“We also saw a 17 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour during the time the operation ran in August, compared to the start of the school holiday's.

He added: "We will never be complacent about the town, and treat it as a priority.

“We continue to put a vast amount of resources into the area and are targeting incidents in Clarence Road and up to the Pullman public house."