HARD-pushed police have reluctantly told a neighbourhood there is "little they can do" to combat a rising tide in violent robberies.

Around 50 people packed into La Ruga restaurant in Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, to discuss spiralling disorder in their neighbourhood.

Locals decided to call the meeting after a woman was hit over the head and robbed by a gang of three men who said they had a gun.

The shocking crime happened in full view of drinkers at The Nags Head pub, but customers were too scared to intervene.

Victim Sam Davies, who runs the Village Bakery in Orford Road, was in hospital for two days. The three robbers escaped with her car keys and £1,500 in takings.

But Sergeant Stefan Milkowski, of Hoe Street Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), said although there had been a rise in robberies across the borough his team - made up of himself, one PC and three PCSOs - were already stretched.

"Up to 20,000 people live in this ward and it's the second most densely populated ward in the borough. There are other crime hotspots such as St Stephens, Atlee Terrace and the YMCA," he told those gathered at Monday night's meeting.

Sgt Milkowski added SNTs were regularly sent out and had spent the past week in the south of the borough.

His colleague, PC Lewis Clarke, added: "We're not ignoring you, we're just working away."

The officers pledged to bid for more funding to increase the number of bobbies on the beat.

Referring to the SNT teams' working hours, which normally end at 10pm, one man said: "We have a meeting and still not a lot of things are done. A robber is going to wait until after 10 when the police go home."

Flossie Parsons, from the Nags Head pub, said: "We used to see police about ten times a day for a year, then they disappeared."

But Roger Carter, landlord of The Nags Head pub, asked: "Do we need to protect ourselves? I think there's enough people here to look after ourselves."

Some people suggested trimming bushes and extra lighting would help.

James Brundle, who was robbed at knifepoint when working in Paul's Wines with his 14-year-old brother, said: "We need to do something major. Cutting back bushes isn't going to do it."

His father Stephen Brundle, the owner of three businesses in Orford Road and a former policeman, said: "Our welcoming committee when we bought the wine shop was being robbed.

"We sort of dealt with it ourselves but we didn't see any police. I'm angry that this is the first time I've seen police here."

l A second meeting has been called to discuss violence in Walthamstow Village. It will be held at the Welcome Centre, Church End at 7.30pm on December 10.

To raise an issue, contact Ray Swingler at the Walthamstow Village Residents' Association via raymond.swingler@btinternet.com.