Residents told of 'nightmare' antisocial behaviour blighting their neighbourhoods as it was revealed that the police presence on Portland has been cut to just one dedicated officer.

Among the catalogue of complaints brought to a public meeting were street fighting, eggs being hurled at homes and bottles being smashed.

Complaints were aired as islanders heard that police cutbacks have meant there is just one PC and Police Community Support Officer remaining who are dedicated to Portland as part of what Dorset Police has called a 'short-term redistribution of officers'.

Portland Town Council met for a full cabinet meeting and invited members of the public to discuss the issue of yobbish behaviour on the island.

Five members of the community attended, with two using the opportunity to give first-hand accounts of their experience of anti-social behaviour and call for action to be taken.

An Easton Square resident said: “The last year has been the worst I have known for antisocial behaviour. We have had eggs thrown at the house, high-power torches pointed at our house late at night and our doorbell rang at midnight. We have had youths fighting outside shouting ‘do you want a knife?'

“It is every single day. It is a nightmare. In September it was so desperate that we had to book an Airbnb in Cornwall for a weekend just so we could get some sleep, and then the first night back we and our neighbour had our doorbells rang at midnight by someone who then ran off.”

Another Easton resident said: “They are smashing bottles and kicking doors, it has frightened us. It is every day and we are constantly reporting it to the police.

“Portland is the place we chose to retire to six years ago. Now we are looking to sell our house and move, but because of the antisocial behaviour, we were told our house had gone down £10,000 in value.”

Councillor Carralyn Parkes said: “Those residents who are here, I am genuinely sorry you have had to experience this. It is a deplorable state to have to live in and hope there is some solution to alleviate these problems.”

The meeting was told that the number of police officers on the island has been cut from two to one, leaving just one constable and one PCSO for the isle.

Portland Mayor Pete Roper said: “It is absolute madness, especially as we have heard tonight that residents are under siege in their own homes.”

Chairman Councillor Jim Draper suggested sending a letter to the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner.

He said: “We have lost a policeman which I think is rather terrible, we are rather upset, rather that rather than increasing policing resources, they have been cut.

“We are limited in what we can do but we will make some noise if nothing else and try to do something for you.”

Cllr Bernard Parkes, a former police officer, said: “You don’t police an area with a couple of policemen.

“We are going to get to a state where people don’t report these incidents because what’s the point? They have got to come up with a plan to police this island.

“We have got to get angry about it.”

Speaking after the meeting, Neighbourhood Inspector Shaz Cuff, of Weymouth and Portland police, said: “We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour on Portland and value information provided by our partners and residents that will help us identify issues of concern and deploy resources appropriately.

"There has been a short-term redistribution of officers to maintain coverage across Weymouth and Portland. However, the neighbourhood team officers will always work together to problem solve across the whole of our policing area."

The town council has suggested holding a meeting with Dorset Police and the community in early March, although an exact date has not been confirmed yet.