The community action panel, set up 12 months ago, includes youth workers, the head teacher of Newlyn Primary School, the minister of Trinity Church and a representative from Penwith Housing Association.

The meeting was chaired by Sgt Richard Hockin, who said motivational projects to get over 16s into work or college, youth projects for under 16s and ways of engaging parents were action points the panel was presently dealing with.

Residents said the six-month Dispersal Order, placed on the estate in October, had had a positive effect.

The order permits police to send home children and young people who are out after 9pm.

Mark Richards, of the community support team, said 26 young people had been dispersed since the order began.

He said this compared with 74 who were dispersed during the same period last year.

However, children not attending school, "families from hell" and houses left empty by "bone idle" workmen were among other issues raised.

One man complained about a family whose children had not been to school for three years. PC Marcus Millington said he would look into the situation.

Residents also vented frustrations at "problem families".

Pat Devereaux, of PHA, said the association was required to present a judge with a lot of information before an eviction process could begin.

He said two families would be in court in January. The association was aiming to bring another two families through the same process.

"They could find themselves outside their house one afternoon with all their belongings in plastic bags. That's why this is so serious," he said.

Residents also complained about empty houses. "Some have been empty for two years," said one.

Mr Devereaux said all except two empty properties were being worked on to bring them into line with the government's Decent Homes strategy.

Bad press was another issue brought up by an angry mother. "Our children are being stigmatised," she said. "We live here, we were brought up here. Our children must think I'm from Gwavas, that means I'm naughty."

A recent national newspaper report branded the Gwavas the "estate from hell".

Sgt Richard Hockin said the worst offenders must be removed. "We need to get the place looking good. Let's rename it, change perceptions, get rid of the stigma," he said.

Alison Whitney, headteacher at Newlyn Primary School, said she it was "such a shame" a small number of people were giving the estate a bad name. "The vast majority of children in my school are wonderful," she said.

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN 

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