STREET of fear.

That was the headlines in the Bolton Evening News on Saturday, October 5. The report went on to tell us about residents in Blackbank Street, Halliwell, who are being terrorised by gangs of youths who hang around threatening residents, vandalising cars, smashing house windows and playing loud music on car stereos from 9pm until 4am.

Residents are afraid to open their doors, afraid to sit in their homes, and are virtual prisoners. One resident, afraid to be named, is considering moving from the area for the sake of the health of her sick husband. Another would gladly sell up, but he says no one wants to buy a house in the area, and he is forced to endure this nightly torture. In one incident a concrete block was thrown through the window of the home of a partially-sighted, disabled pensioner.

Once again I ask the simple question "Where are the police?"

I feel ashamed and embarrassed on their behalf, at the comment from a police spokesman: "We are aware that residents of Blackbank Street have been experiencing problems with youths. The Area Officer is currently attempting to arrange a meeting with residents to establish exactly what can be done to resolve the situation."

I haven't phoned CS Don Brown to check the facts, as he has asked me to do before writing letters to the Bolton Evening News about "isolated incidents". Maybe he could take the time to explain to us all, if indeed he considers these to be the facts, and if he does, then what exactly he is doing to resolve this totally unacceptable situation on yet another Bolton street?

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton