With reference to the proposed playground at the rear of Haldane Road, Darwen, I feel I must put my objection in writing.

I moved to this area six years ago and gradually had to endure my life being disrupted by yobs and their loutish behaviour. They show no respect for people or property and because of their numbers I feel intimidated.

I have suffered verbal abuse, threat, damage to plants, hedges and also had windows smashed in my greenhouse.

I have had gangs of them in the driveway in front of my garage drinking and when asked to move on, there is a tirade of abuse and threats.

They have urinated on cars in the garage driveway and among the cans and litter, and have left used condoms. I suppose we ought to be thankful they are using condoms so that another generation of feral yobs are not being added to.

I was at the stage of phoning the police 3-4 times a week and whilst acknowledging that they would at certain times have different priorities, felt that was my only recourse. The police did what they could but I was often left feeling frustrated, frightened and helpless.

Over the past couple of years things have quietened down but the proposed playground just seems to be welcoming them back and the trouble they cause back into our area.

The story in The Lancashire Telegraph about cab drivers threatening not to collect passengers in this area because of fear of attack shows that the problems still exist, even on a well-lit main road and giving them the opportunity to gather in a quiet residential area is just inviting trouble.

I can accept to a degree that the young people need somewhere to gather but whilst they and their parents will not accept responsibility for their actions, it does not seem right or proper to dump the problem literally into the backyards of the people of Haldane Road.

Resident, Earcroft Ward.