Nuisance drunks urinating on benches and verbally abusing shoppers on Witham’s high street are ruining the town’s image, say traders and residents.

Business owners in Newland Street are concerned that the problems surrounding people drinking outside their shops are getting worse.

In July, Witham Town Council even had to remove a bench outside the town hall after it became a magnet for antisocial behaviour.

Mayor Janet Money said a new anti-social behaviour act, which allows police to issue on-the-spot fines, could help tackle the problem.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.