A PLAY challenging South Oxhey stereotypes has been attacked by Three Rivers District councillors for reinforcing the very ideas it attempts to undermine.

Eight young people from Westfield School the majority of them from South Oxhey worked on the play entitled South Oxhey Where It's At.

The 40-minute production, which was supported by Millennium Volunteers Hertfordshire, focuses on a group of South Oxhey youths and culminates in a stabbing.

The no-holds-barred play contains swearing, references to sex, and discusses topics such as racism and gang warfare.

Millennium volunteer Ms Bethany Moxon, 18, came up with the idea for a play based on the media's perception of South Oxhey.

She said: "I hope people will understand South Oxhey's not that bad. We are portraying stereotypes to show how wrong they can be. The show is a caricature of the community."

However, some present at the play's showing on Saturday were upset by its contents.

Councillor Nena Spellen said: "To me that was not a true picture of what is happening in South Oxhey. I resented the bit about no one goes to university from South Oxhey. I hated the implication that this place wasn't worth living in.

"I'm very upset about it because all the good work the people in the community are doing was totally ignored."

Chairman of the council Geoff Emery said: "The play was well acted but the content of the play, I think, over-emphasised the problems we have in South Oxhey.

"I had hoped they would be portraying all the good things they do, helping people who need help in the area."

Mr Roger Sands, county co-ordinator of Millennium Volunteers, responded: "They haven't fully understood it.

This is a group of young people, in the main from South Oxhey, who wrote their own script, who are fed up with the stereotypes that the media quote about South Oxhey that's the whole point.

"It was very hard-hitting when it was performed. The issues raised represented issues at the very heart of the community."