The youths are said to congregate around flats in Barn Lea, where many residents are elderly and vulnerable.

One resident who contacted The Watford Observer this week did not want her name published for fear of reprisals.

She claims the youths are intimidating, make a lot of noise and vandalise property.

She also says in the past the problems only occurred every now and then, but she claims there have been incidents every day for the last month.

She said: "One flat had its windows broken and another lady has been so upset that she is on tablets now.

"They have pulled all the apples off an apple tree and thrown them at people.

"I have to turn my television up because they are swearing outside my window.

"We have contacted the police and Three Rivers District Council, but they do not seem to care.

"What we need is for the police to come down every night for a week and hopefully that would get rid of them."

Hertfordshire County Councillor Barbara Lamb, who lives near where the incidents have ocurred claimed this week the youths were behaving so badly people were considering moving home.

Councillor Lamb said when she asked them to congregate somewhere else, they responded by spitting all over her car.

She added: "That is one of the milder things the youths do.

"They have done even worse things I won't comment on because I don't want to make people feel sick."

According to Councillor Lamb, the youths have complained of having nothing to do, so Hertfordshire County Council offered to take some of them to a club in Bushey to learn about motorbikes, but they declined.

She said: "There is some very threatening behaviour and they think it is quite clever to make a nuisance of themselves.

"Even if we gave them something to do, I doubt it would make a difference.

"How would they like it if it was their grandparents being treated like this?

"It is now affecting the quality of life for people there. Someone told me living there is like living a life of Hell.

"They are costing a lot of money and a lot of heartache for people there."

A spokesman for the district council said: "There are groups of ten to 13-year-olds playing football where they shouldn't, throwing things around and causing a nuisance.

"No one has witnessed any incidents or knows any of their names.

"They are not actually committing a criminal act.

"It is general nuisance behaviour."

Inspector Shakil Qasim said: "We are aware of a group of eight to 13-year-olds in Barn Lea.

"Some of them have received verbal warnings and some of their parents have as well.

"If the problems continue, we will be looking at Acceptable Behaviour Commitments (ABCs) and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders if appropriate.

"We will also be discussing with other agencies what sort of solutions we can provide.

"We take this seriously because it affects people's lives."

September 30, 2001 19:30

Caroline Graham