THE arrival of hundreds of migrant workers in Trowbridge is causing tension in the town and they are being blamed for an increase in drunkenness and anti-social behaviour.

A minority of Polish arrivals are being held responsible for making people feel uneasy and casting a shadow over the well-behaved majority.

The Polish community has produced leaflets to be displayed in the town's Polish club and their priest has been asked to appeal for good behaviour at mass.

There have been reports of groups of Polish men gathering and drinking in areas including the Town Park and Wicker Hill, shouting and making lewd remarks to passers-by.

Speaking at a meeting of the Trowbridge Area Seminar on Monday, town and district cllr Jeff Osborn said: "I am going to stick my neck out and say they are migrant workers.

"It is not all Polish people but the situation has got worse, it is another factor in the mix.

"They sit on the benches at Wicker Hill drinking and they are there permanently."

Cllr Osborn said tension is increasing and if something is not done the situation could blow up.

"It is in danger of becoming like tinder, it only needs a spark to cause God knows what trouble," he added Cllr John Knight said: "Wicker Hill has definitely changed in the last four or five weeks. It is quite frightening and it isn't just part of the day it is all day."

The councillors called for a working group to be set up to look into the possibility of a drinking ban being introduced in the town centre.

Trowbridge has a strong and long-established Polish population that has been well-integrated into the local community for half a century.

Many of these residents have been left aghast by the behaviour of some of the newcomers.

Kazik Zukowski, of Talbot Road, has lived in Trowbridge for more than 50 years.

He said: "What has been happening lately is disgusting. It is a problem and I am really ashamed of what is happening."

Mr Zukowski's wife, Sylvia Zukowska, is the honorary Polish consul officer for the west Wiltshire area.

She said the minority of migrant workers are ruining it for the majority who simply want to live in peace and earn money to send home to their families.

"There are some who come over for a jolly, to earn a bit of money and drink it, but there is an element of that in any nation, the majority are hardworking but we don't hear about the good ones.

"We are happy for others to come and join us but to abide by the law of the land and not to ruin the good reputation we have built up since the war."

The influx of foreign workers in the town has also led to problems with people being housed in unsuitable, overcrowded accommodation.

Trowbridge mayor Tom James said: "We have a lot of Polish workers but what I find shameful more than anything is landlords ripping them off."

Police Insp Dave Cullop said the force has problems communicating with the new arrivals and is considering employing bilingual community support officers, but said the police are already receiving help from the established Polish community.