ANGRY residents of Pool are demanding action against the anti-social antics of migrant workers who have set up home in their community – with some threatening to 'take the law into their own hands'.

More than 40 people packed Treloweth Community Centre on Monday evening to challenge the police, Cornwall Council and Carn Brea Parish council to get a grip on the problem.

Residents recounted incidents of fighting, drinking, drug taking and partying late into the night by migrant workers from countries including Poland and Russia.

They claimed the foreign nationals could park anywhere and appeared immune from prosecution. They reported incidents of people urinating in the streets and trespassing, stealing flowers from gardens and entering cars.

At the heated meeting, one resident described them as "nothing but a damn nuisance".

Another said that 10 migrant workers were living in a four-bedroom house, and questioned whether they had permission to do so.

Others spoke of "eight months of hell" and how the noise into the early hours was "unbearable".

One resident reported that things had been "a little quieter" since a meeting a month or so ago.

Two threatened to take the law in to their own hands, and added: "If something isn't done, we as residents will sort this out ourselves." Others demanded action against the landlords who let their properties to migrant workers but seemed unconcerned about their antisocial behaviour.

PC Dave Dolling insisted that migrant workers were not immune from prosecution, nor were they responsible for all the problems in the area.

He said that 32 properties had been identified where they were living, which stretched across Pool as far as West Tolgus and Carn Brea Village.

He added: "We have been visiting all the premises that we know about, gathering details of landlords and tenants. It's important that the landlords are aware of all the issues and see how they can help us solve the problems."

Community network manager Mark James assured residents that Cornwall Council teams would be "doing all that they should" to help.

Amanda Fuller, Carn Brea Parish Council's police liaison councillor, stressed the need for residents to keep a proper diary of incidents to build a case against troublemakers.

David Sillifant, chairman of Cornwall Migrant Workers' Group, said his organisation fully supported the action taken by the police neighbourhood beat team at Pool to eliminate the anti-social behaviour reported by residents.

He added: "I am aware that the police identified a small number of migrant workers as being among those responsible, and have already taken measures to ensure they, like others involved, do not repeat this behaviour.

"The vast majority of people from abroad who have come to work locally are conscientious members of society and want nothing more than to be a part of the local community.

"I am aware that as regards to the concerns raised by residents, the action of police and partners, which was even-handed for all involved, appears to have effectively dealt with the issue as far as migrant workers are concerned, and it is hoped that there will be no future instances of this sort."

● Landlords who house migrant workers are to be invited to a meeting with the police and other agencies to try to alleviate the problems. Another residents' meeting is planned for two months time.