IN response to the comments made by Fred Shawcross (April 4) about local vandals.

What Fred may not know is that many of the vandals are from well-off families, with nothing better to do and trying to find some way of assimilation with the other youths by showing off their ability to do as they please, to what they please.

Teenage gangs are a problem in Horwich and have been for as long as I can remember. However, our own Horwich teenagers don't tend to attack fire crews, as has occurred in other areas of Bolton. Some things, as Fred may know, are done as silly moments showing off, or as a laugh.

When I was a teenager, our science experiments went well outside school hours. We made bombs and detonators to blow up for fun in remote areas. We were 15 years old. Our generation had dads and mums who would give us a good beating if we went too far -- and we did get some beatings. We also had morals and conscience, these were things we were taught early in life.

The traditional methods do work. It's up to parents to enforce discipline, and they do need to do just that. If you don't then your children will suffer as a result, and one day you may be liable for damages you cannot afford to pay, no matter how well off you are.

Most parents do good by their children. But when they mix with those from parents who treat offspring like their pet dogs and let them out and do as they please where they please, then your youngsters are going to land in trouble.

Paul Lacey

Horwich, Bolton