PENSIONERS who battled troublemakers by fitting a high-pitched "mosquito" device to their homes have been told to remove it by planning officers.

The Vale of White Horse District Council said the Wantage Town Land Governors must take down the gadget from Victorian almshouses, in Eagles Close, because it does not have the correct planning consent.

But the governors, who run and maintain the ten almshouses for 12 residents, said the mosquito was a vital tool in helping to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

The mosquito - normally heard buzzing in shopping parades and other hot spots - stops groups of youths congregating by emitting an irritating high-pitched noise only youngsters can hear.

They are looking to relocate the device at a spot which does not require planning consent. If this fails, they said they would consider submitting a retrospective planning application.

Governor David Castle said: "It's a useful tool to control yobs and it took a long time to get. Now we've got it, it should be used. If they are congregating in the area, they want discouraging because they are making the old people feel very unsettled and uneasy."

Thames Valley Police put up the £500 device last autumn, after a string of problems, which governors last night said were creeping back.

Almoner Moya Lee said problems had flared up over the past two weeks with people entering residents' gardens and vandalising property.

She said: "The oldest lady is 87 and it's frightening. It's theft, wilful damage and it's trespass.

"I think it's awful because the mosquito is there to protect vulnerable people and it's not an eyesore."

Mr Castle said: "They run around the garden and the latest trick is to pull up the clothes lines. It's little things like that and they make a lot of noise late at night and the residents are getting twitchy.

"Residents have been told by the police to keep a record of how many times they have called the police and the action they have received from that call."

One pensioner, who didn't want to be named, said: "It is a problem, they keeping taking the washing lines and running all over the garden.

"It doesn't affect me as much, but I don't see why they can't keep the mosquito up, it's only a small box and some of the kids are quite intimidating."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "The mosquito has been made inactive and is currently in the process of being taken off the building.

"We put the mosquito up, responding to the requests of residents, as part of the Crime Disorder Reduction Partnership. We will carry on pro-actively patrolling the area to help prevent any incidents of anti-social behaviour."