LAST week my husband got up to go to work to find that the tyres on our car had been slashed for the fourth time in twelve months, as have several of our neighbours within the past year we have had £1700 worth of damage done to our home and car. The car has been jumped on by local youths, our gates have been vandalised and stolen, windows broken, fence panels and garden plants stolen and the shed and garden have been burgled several times.

We recently had CCTV fitted to the house at more cost to us, but what we saw defies belief. A gang of between 5 to 8 children aged between 7 to around 16 appear around 2am until 6am, shouting, screaming and causing a nuisance.

I caught one of the youngest slashing a neighbour's car tyre. I phoned the police who have been a great help to us, but as no one knows who these children are, nothing could be done. These children also use Redgate drive and the alleyway between Tickle Avenue for motorbike racing all hours of the day and night.

I have complained to the council more times than I can remember and still nothing is done.

What I really find disturbing is in this time when children are being abducted, what are these children doing out at this time. Where are their parents? It seems that they don't care or don't know where they are or what they get up to.

We should have a van patrolling at night, picking them up. Parents should then be charged a fee to release them. If the same child is caught again, the fee should increase. Maybe then they may take an interest in what their kids get up to.

l Name and address withheld.