Youngsters have been using dogs to terrorise pensioners and families in a community park.

Fed-up homeowners have joined forces to devise a plan to deal with aggressive or intimidating dogs and owners, at the recreation ground in Church Road, Biggin Hill.

Bob Wilkinson, who helps to run the Biggin Hill Partnership group, admitted the 'status dog' problem had become worse in recent weeks.

Residents met to discuss the issues last night, and Mr Wilkinson told the Chronicle: "We heard of a lot of the older ladies living around the recreation ground were frightened by the so-called status dogs.

"There have been youths in the recreation ground who have been intimidating, warning these ladies to keep their dogs away, or their dog would rip its throat out.

"A lot of these ladies have small companion dogs and we were having a situation where they were saying they had nowhere to walk them."

Mr Wilkinson blamed youngsters coming from outside the area.

He said the BHP decided to hold a meeting to discuss the dogs and other antisocial behaviour problems in the town, after members of the public expressed their concerns.

Bromley police spokesman Julian Hurst said: "We have had no feedback from residents about status dogs in the recreation ground, although we do know it is a problem in other areas of Bromley."

He added police had put into effect a new tactic to crack down on antisocial behaviour.

Powers included a new six-month dispersal zone in Biggin Hill, which came into effect last month.

Sergeant Gill Smith, head of the Biggin Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "We have been working together with the council to secure this dispersal order. It gives us an extra tool to police people carrying out antisocial behaviour, so we can improve the quality of life for those living and working in the area.

"We will continue to use all available legislation to reduce crime and tackle the antisocial behaviour, which is only caused by a small minority of individuals, who travel into the area.

"These dispersal areas are an effective tactic in protecting the community and solving the problems of criminality and antisocial behaviour in neighbourhoods."