The principal of Richmond College has promised to review his smoking policy after protests were threatened if he did not revoke the ban.

Residents living around the Twickenham college called on David Ansell to revoke his smoking ban inside college grounds after claiming they suffered antisocial behaviour on a daily basis from students smoking in the streets.

At a residents’ meeting last night, Craneford Way resident Kevin Rowles said he had received correspondence from more than 30 households who had experienced an increase in intimidating behaviour, littering and drug-taking outside their homes since the ban was introduced in September, .

Mr Rowles said: “I’ve been jostled and intimidated by groups of students as I tried to leave or enter my home.

“A neighbour showed me her garden recently and I couldn’t believe it – you’d need a pitchfork to clean it up.”

Mr Rowles said he had received calls from fearful elderly residents, including one woman who felt forced to time her trips out of the house to avoid the youngsters.

He said: “It’s like a prison sentence for the elderly.”

Mr Ansell, who attended the meeting, was warned protests would be held outside the college on parent’s evenings until the ban was revoked.

Mr Rowles added: “We are not going to let this drop until we get the ban lifted”.

John Williams, of Court Way, said he believed part of the problem was due to college students - two thirds of whom live outside the borough - lacking “respect” for the area.

He said: “They are away from their own area and there’s no respect for Twickenham. It’s just somewhere for them to go to be educated.”

Problems outside the college escalated in January when an 18-year-old student was chased by a gang of six youths and stabbed in a front garden in Court Way. Two teenagers, a 16 and a 17-year-old, were arrested and bailed in connection with the stabbing.

Councillor Ben Khosa, who represents the St Margarets and North Twickenham ward, said it was time action was taken.

He said: “I feel the college and the safer neighbourhood team have really got to put their heads together and solve this problem.”

Mr Ansell revealed the no-smoking policy had been introduced to make the college “a healthy environment” for students.

He said: “We shall be going away to review our policies and we have received the message that it is urgent to do so.”