Benches behind the abbey at the Cloister Gardens at Malmesbury look set to be returned and the nearby Jubilee Gardens reopened, despite protests from the police and residents.

Malmesbury police said crime has fallen dramatically at the notorious boozing spots since the three benches at the Cloister Gardens and one at the top of abbey steps were removed and the Jubilee Gardens closed at the end of last summer.

But at a meeting last week the town council, which runs the garden on a 99-year lease from Abbey House Gardens, has decided the benches should be replaced.

And the Civic Trust has confirmed it is to reopen the Jubilee Gardens, which it runs on behalf of owners The Old Bell Hotel, from 9am until 5pm daily.

Malmesbury mayor Charles Vernon said he had listened to the views of police and residents but still felt the permanent removal of the benches meant the majority paying for the misbehaviour of the few. He said: "We want to put the benches back for the benefit of the general public and the visitors to the town.

"Why should the rest of the community suffer because of a small minority?"

Roger Griffin, vice chairman of the Civic Trust, said that even when the gardens are closed youths are still getting into the garden by climbing over the wall, causing more damage.

He said: "We want to go along with the police but there is not much point in having a garden if it is not used.

"Most of the problems take place in the evening. During the day there isn't much of a problem. If there is we will have to look at it again."

Malmesbury police sergeant Gavin Williams said that, with the long summer nights approaching, returning the benches and reopening the gardens would encourage youths.

He said: "We have been working with the council and I can understand they have other considerations such as tourism to take into account.

"I can only speak from a crime and disorder perspective and since the seats have been removed instances of anti social behaviour have reduced drastically, that is a very positive thing.

"From a police point of view I am keen to keep anti social behaviour down and obviously removing the benches has helped with that."

Residents who live near the Jubilee Gardens opposite the Old Bell Hotel at Abbey Row and down to Burnivale say the area is much quieter and trouble free since the gardens have been closed.

Jackie Peel, 44, had a brick thrown through her car window causing £400 worth of damage at the height of the problems over the last two years.

She said she did not want the Jubilee Gardens re-opened.

"They take rubbish like bottles from the Old Bell and just throw it down the hill toward Daniel's Well. I've had bottles and bits of rubbish thrown at me as I put out my washing. The kids just do not care.

"It had been a lot quieter since the gardens have been closed and I don't want it to open again until the police can reassure us that they have the situation under control," she said.

Neighbour Babs Farnfield, of Burnivale, agreed. "The kids hang about on corners and even though I am much older than them it is very intimidating. Some of the older people have become scared to go out," she said.

Owner of Abbey House Gardens Ian Pollard said he wanted the benches permanently removed from the Cloister Gardens.

He said that an offer to fence and secure the area in conjunction with The Old Bell had been refused by the town council.

Malmesbury Abbey's parochial church council has decided to put a mesh covering over the windows facing the cloister gardens after panes of the stained glass were smashed by stones.