A DARK alley has become a haven for muggers, drug users and delinquents since authorities failed to fix a street light that broke over a year ago, claim residents.

Jackson Alley, which runs between the High Road and Clifton Road carpark in Loughton, was formerly used frequently by residents and shoppers, but is now treated as a no-go area by many after dark.

During weekends residents claim gangs of youth crowd in to the alley to take drugs, drink and scrawl graffiti on the walls.

Since December 2010 police have recorded 24 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Clifton Road, and four violent crimes.

Residents claim there was also an attempted mugging in the alley in August.

Clifton Road resident Anna Clifford, 32, said: “There were kids throwing stones from the alley out to the High Street. My husband told them to clear off and they just said ‘what is going to happen if we don’t?’ The police came about five minutes later.

“I was a bit afraid when I had to walk down there in the evening a few weeks ago. If a couple of people were to block your exit from either side you could not get away.

Resident Anna Donahue, 37, said: "They get up on to the roof and throw things in the alley, like bricks and stones. Ithappens failry frequently."

“I would definitely like to see the lights get fixed.”

One resident of Clifton Road, who does not wish to be named, said: “Almost every night and particularly on Fridays and Saturdays it is full of kids shrieking and shouting and carrying on.

She said that in August she had found a woman in tears who told her that she had only been saved from being mugged at the last minute when a couple turned in to the alley, distracting the robber and allowing the woman to escape.

“We have been asking Essex County Council to take action for over a year but nobody does anything about it.”

Shopkeepers in the High Road have also been forced to call out police numerous times after youths a started climbed on to the roofs of their businesses and jumping across the alley from one rooftop to another.

Mitch Levenson is the manager of the Superdrug shop at the High Road entrance to the alley.

He said: “The kids have this little craze of jumping across from one building to another. You hear a thud on the roof and the whole building shakes.

“The alley has definitely been a problem for a while, it is out of sight and it is getting darker earlier now as well.”

Peter Sheen is the chairman of the Loughton High Road Town Centre Partnership, who have fought to have the alley’s lights fixed and the rooftop blocked off.

He said: “I think there are a number of reasons why this needs resolving. The kids themselves are in danger. It is inherently dangerous leaping from roof to another across a gap like that.

“I think there needs to be a joint approach by the council, police and the owners of the business premises to getting this sorted.”

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Essex County Council is aware of ongoing issues with two street lighting units at this site. At the beginning of the year, both lights were fitted with replacement lanterns.

"Essex County Council endeavours to carry out maintenance work on street lights in a timely manner and now we are aware of the situation, repairs will be carried out accordingly.” Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Twitter