A ram-raider caused £1,500 damage when he ploughed a car into a storage shed behind an Indian restaurant.

Staff at the Raj Dhutt, in Hailsham High Street, spotted a group of youths behaving rowdily.

Moments later, a teenager crashed a red Ford Sierra into the storage shed, just feet from the kitchen.

The youngster fled on foot while staff and about 20 diners were recovering from the shock.

Manager Salik Abdul, 41, said: "Had he not braked, the car would have come crashing through the kitchen. Who knows what would have happened?

"It was very dangerous and could have caused some serious injuries."

He said youths gathering in central Hailsham had turned it into a problem area after dark. He added: "They make a real nuisance of themselves. There were a few mucking around before this happened.

"Something happens almost every night, with people setting fire to things."

Chef Abdul Malik, 46, called for an increased police presence in the town centre after dark.

He said: "I thought he was going to ram the car into the restaurant.

"It was very frightening. The restaurant was quite busy so people could have got hurt.

"The youths round here are a pain."

Police in Hailsham have stepped up efforts by increasing patrols, which senior officers said had notably reduced crime.

Inspector Tim Piloni, sector commander for Hailsham, said one youth had been given a final warning before he faced prosecution.

Anyone with information on the ram raid is asked to call 0845 6070999.

Meanwhile a caretaker plans to stamp out anti-social behaviour on an estate in the town by carrying out night patrols.

Paul Lovick, caretaker of the Town Farm estate, who has teamed up with Amanda Owens, housing officer for Wealden District Council, to comb the streets after dark to combat vandalism and crime by children and teenagers who often intimidate pensioners.

Mr Lovick said the estate was getting better but he hopes the new patrols would keep the youngsters in check.

He said: "We decided to have a three month trial period, going out every so often to look round the estate and talk to any kids hanging about.

"The kids still hang about at night but they respect us more now and they know we will go and talk to their parents straight away to give them what for."

Penny Edwards, chairman of the Town Farm Residents Association, said the estate had become a great place to live and the patrols acted to prevent problems rather than target specific ones.

She said: "We think the patrols are a fantastic idea and we are behind them 100 per cent.

"The kids just hang out there because they have nothing to do. They are not doing any harm but older people do get worried.

"The estate is a nice place to live at the moment and the patrols are just making sure it stays that way."

Since Mr Lovick's arrival as caretaker for the estate two years ago, police have recorded a drop in crime in the area and are behind the latest campaign to drive teenagers from the streets late at night.

Inspector Tim Piloni said: "We support having extra ears and eyes on the street.

"We can work with the council and exchange information. For example, if kids are hanging out on a council owned bench we can ask Paul to go and talk to them or send someone in uniform along, not to intimidate them but tell them they are worrying elderly neighbours.

"Not many people want to step forward and give a statement when the police are called to an incident but with these types of patrols acting as the eyes and ears of the public, Paul will be able to tell us what is going on without fear."