A resident of Churchills, Newton Abbot, has praised new Coombeshead College headteacher Matthew Shanks for turning around the bad behaviour of pupils at the college.

For years, Irene Peeke, of Marlborough Place, which backs on to the school, made regular phone calls to the college and to the police about the youngsters misbehaving.

She claims that despite her efforts, pupils still congregated in Foxwell Lane next to her home, urinated in the lane and young couples 'made out' near to her home.

Mrs Peeke also said she could not use her garden as all she could hear was vulgar language from students and footballs were kicked there during school breaks.

She was also angry that floodlights at the college car park were left on and she could not sleep.

Despite complaining she said nothing was done to sort out the bad behaviour.

She said problems spiralled out of control when building work started with a new entrance at the bottom of Foxwell Lane.

We reported extensively on Mrs Peeke's and other residents' complaints down the years.

Now with new staff at the helm, she believes the students are more respectful and action is taken 'immediately' if they step out of line.

'I give praise where it's due,' she said.

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