By Becky Procter

UP to 54 allotment holders will take turns to hold nightly vigils at their Southcrest plots in an effort to thwart vandals.

Armed with mobile phones, members of Tilehouse Allotments and Tenants Association will lie in wait and are prepared to make citizens' arrests if they catch anyone causing trouble at the Plymouth Road plots.

Group chairman Brian Alcock, 65, said: "We have been having a lot of trouble with vandalism.

"Sheds are being broken into and we've had a caravan and a shed set on fire."

Mr Alcock complained police took their time in responding to reports of vandalism.

He said: "We'll take it in turns to do night patrols.

"We'll sit in the sheds with our mobile phones and if we see anything going on, we'll call the police and, if it's possible, we'll make citizens' arrests ourselves."

The 78-plot allotments have been established since 1982 but Mr Alcock said the problems were just getting worse and worse.

Sgt Nick Husbands, of Central Sector, said: "We understand Mr Alcock's concerns but we have to prioritise our workload and this means we are not always able to send an officer to these types of incidents immediately.

"Our inquiries into these incidents are continuing."