ANGRY Wattsville residents last night called on Gwent police to help them tackle anti-social behaviour in their village.

The call came at a public meeting to discuss the aftermath of forest fires that devastated the mountainside above the village in April.

Local people expressed their concerns that no-one has yet been charged for starting the fires.

Sergeant Bob Doidge , of Risca police, said: "The suspects we originally arrested were questioned but released without charge. There was insufficient evidence to prosecute them."

He added: "It's not a case of 'no-one is going to get done for it'. We can't just accuse people. We need evidence to prosecute and without that there's very little we can do." Concerned residents also raised the issue of youths on scrambler bikes tearing up the mountainside, and said more police were needed.

Sergeant Doidge told the meeting, attended by around 30 people, that 28 police officers cover the Risca and Newbridge patch from Risca station, meaning that a maximum of seven officers are on duty at any one time during the day.

The meeting's chairman, Brian Hancock, is writing to request a community police officer for the area. Fire service and the Forestry Commission representatives also attended the meeting.