A riverside beauty spot blighted by drug users injecting themselves, people drinking and litter louts has been fenced off after tireless campaigning by residents.

The site underneath the bridge on Stonebridge Road by the Kingsbrook Park housing estate had become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, with people climbing around gates to get beneath the bridge.

But bosses at Berkeley Homes, which manages the estate, have now put fencing up along the river blocking it off completely - after concerns were raised by the Friends of Kingsmead Field and Kingsbrook Park Residents Association.

Sian Pettman, of the Friends group, says no-one had been taking responsibility for the unadopted “no-man’s land” and it was left to herself and residents to clear up the mess.

“It was a non-stop process of clearing it,” she said.

“Over the years there have been a lot of issues down there with drug taking and drug dealing, and general anti-social behaviour.

“Bottles are smashed and thrown in the river, needles are left there.

“It’s in an area where kids go down to the river to play - but with needles and drug paraphernalia, that is problematic.”

Ms Pettman says the bridge was not designed as an underpass and so is not high enough for people to walk under. Instead it is gated off at each end, creating a “hideaway” underneath.

“It should have been designed to continue the river walk,” she said.

“With more people around it would deter these sorts of problems, instead of it being a hideaway.

“Something had to be done and so the decision was made for it to be fenced off so people can’t climb round and under the bridge.

“Hopefully the problem will now be resolved.”

People living in Kingsbrook Park have welcomed the move and say it will stop people from congregating there.

“There have been people using needles and leaving them there along with rubbish - it’s disgusting,” said resident Sheila Marks.

“It is lovely down by the river but it was marred by all this.”

Laurence Bates, who lives on Stonebridge Road, said the fences will hopefully put a stop to the problem.

“As far as I know there were people sleeping rough under the bridge,” he said.

“I’ve got nothing against them - it’s the people who leave needles and rubbish.”

Berkeley Homes was unavailable for comment.

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