THE number of police call-outs to two controversial children's homes has been discovered after campaigners used Freedom of Information legislation to access the figures.

Residents from Hartburn and Stillington, two villages to the west of Stockton, fought for several years to block the opening of the homes and since 2014 they have raised concerns about the level of police activity at the properties.

There has been almost 200 calls logged with officers attending more than 100 times during the period identified in the FOI.

Run by Spark of Genius, the homes are used to house looked-after children from across the Stockton Borough Council area.

Despite the number police call-outs, the local authority and the company are reassuring residents that not every recorded police visit is related to a criminal offence at either home or by any of the vulnerable young people who live their.

Zak McIlhargey, managing director of Spark of Genius, said: "There has been some issues at the homes but the number of incidents resulting in court action is three – not all of these call outs are about crime. Some of the young people in the homes are thriving and that is what is important to us."

However, a spokesman for the Stillington action group, has called for further action to protect local residents.

He said: "The high number of police call outs to The Vicarage, next to our primary school, is highly disturbing but not surprising. This is exactly what we feared and warned the council about before they put a home next to our children’s school."

While a spokeswoman for the Hartburn Residents' Association, added: "The neighbours of Red Plains (the name of the home) have been subjected to countess instances of shocking behaviour including, objects such as wooden planks, piping, eggs, whole fruit, soiled toilet paper, soiled underwear, picture frames thrown at houses or into gardens; regular outbursts of the most disgusting and foul language at all hours of the day and night."

And Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “These are well-run homes – all rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted – and the children and young people living in them have come into our care because, through no fault of their own, their parents have been unable to care for or protect them. We are doing everything we can to give them a better start in life.”