TRADERS in Walcot are shutting up shop early because their customers have become too frightened to buy groceries.

The shops say Sussex Square has become a no-go zone for many elderly shoppers who are intimidated by youths using the arcade as an area to congregate after school.

Shopkeepers say abuse hurled by the youths is scaring the pensioners away.

One shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: "I worry about my shop every night. I have been here nearly five years and each morning I look to see whether it is still there.

"This is my living so of course I worry about it. I'm well insured, but that's not the point.

"During the day it's alright, but at night when it is dark it can be very intimidating. Generally there is a rush around 3.30pm, but by 3.45pm it's dead and a lot of people are ready to close up.

"People shouldn't have to put up with the abuse they get when all they want to do is go about their business in peace. Teenagers trying to be jack-the-lads cause a lot of trouble, but when they've grown up and left another generation comes forward. People are too scared to speak out for fear of what might happen."

Shopkeepers say the problem was exacerbated last week because of half term.

Coun Mavis Childs (Lab, Walcot) said: "A lot of pensioners don't like going to Sussex Square for their money and it is intimidating. There is no respect anymore and intimidation is not funny if you are 70, 80 or 90 and frightened."

Parks and Walcot was rated among the top 10 per cent of the most deprived areas of the country in a survey carried out by the Office of National Statistics in 2000.

But crime in Sussex Square has been tackled thanks to the introduction of six CCTV cameras there 18 months ago.

The cameras were set up in partnership with a scheme being run simultaneously in Cavendish Square, costing a total of £150,000.

And volunteer street wardens, who were first introduced to the streets in May last year, have also had an impact.

Cavendish Square Inspector Bill Halsey, of Swindon police, added: "According to our records we haven't had any criminal damage reported to us at Sussex Square so far this year, nor have we had complaints from shopkeepers about youths intimidating their customers.

"If these problems were serious I would have expected members of the public to have contacted us, but this had not happened. While we have been called to Sussex Square on several occasions none of the incidents have related to the concerns that the shopkeepers are now expressing.

"I would urge shopkeepers and the public alike to report any criminal offences they see.

"There is CCTV in Sussex Square, which has cost a lot of money to install and we would look to use this to gather evidence against any offenders should crimes be reported.

"In addition the street wardens patrol Sussex Square and deal with non-crime incidents like anti-social behaviour."

Meanwhile, young people in the area have expressed surprise at the claims.

Kim Marshall, 17, a Swindon College student from Walcot, said: "Young people are still going to hang around.

"They don't usually come out until about 6 or 7pm when the shops are closed anyway.

"You don't really get any trouble unless you get on the wrong side of them."

One 15-year-old St Joseph's School pupil said: "I didn't think there was much trouble any more, I though all the new CCTV cameras had stopped it. If you are an older person going into a shop and there are lots of young people, I think it could be intimidating so maybe they have got a point."