A NOTORIOUS estate once described by MP Mick Clapham as one of the worst in the borough has seen crime figures halved since residents set up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

Police call-outs to Welland Crescent, Elsecar have fallen from 24 incidents to 12 in the two months after a watch was established and police patrols were increased in October.

Maggie Bell, 46, who grew up on the estate, said the residents decided to take action when anti-social behaviour became particularly bad over the summer.

She said: “There was a lot of drinking which resulted in anti-social and violent behaviour which the younger children were seeing.

“We wanted to stop the kids from witnessing violence as we know how it can affect them.

“My parents have lived here for 46 years and when I came back I was really disappointed to see how it had deteriorated. “But people are fed up of it and are prepared to stand up and be counted.”

About 30 residents met to discuss the problems in July and two watches were quickly established with a third awaiting for confirmation. Residents nicknamed the ‘Welland Rangers’ have met once a month and are keeping incident diaries of any trouble to pass onto the police.

PC Paul Davies and PCSO Justine Wieteska of Hoyland safer neighbourhood team have given a lot of support to the project.

PC Davies said: “We have been carrying out a lot of high visibility patrols in the area and spent time gaining the trust of the community.

“We have had a lot more feedback from the local community who have explained what the problems were.”