Police thanked the youngster who called anonymously to say a fight was planned at East Side Park, Newhaven, an area where residents say they are already living in fear.

The planned fight was thought to have been in response to a fracas in the town centre earlier in the week when a youth had been attacked. A brick was later thrown through a window in retaliation.

Events spiralled and a fight was planned for the park on Friday.
The girl said she had discovered someone would be carrying a knife and due to a spate of knife attacks nationally felt she had to tell the police to avert potential tragedy.

The girl's actions gave police time to get an order allowing them to search groups of teenagers for weapons.

No weapons were found but alcohol was confiscated and no fight went ahead.

Police praised the unnamed girl who they said acted regardless of her own safety. They promised to crack down on the yobs.

PC Matt Holt said: 'Incidents involving knives are taken very seriously by Newhaven police due to the current incidents in other parts of the country.

'We would like to thank this person for coming forward and speaking to us about this planned fight.

'The information is being used to assist officers with prosecutions for offences or civil actions such as anti-social behaviour orders.'

He said the area now had patrols on Friday and Saturday nights and police were working with Lewes District Council to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Residents of East Side said problems with underage drinking and vandalism at the park were getting worse.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'I feel we are under seige.

'It has not got any better, it has got worse.

'We have quite a few older residents around here, they are living in fear. They will be even more terrified now.

'The kids round here are quite fearful too because if the kids at school think their parents are involved (in calling the police] then they face reprisals at school.'