MY 81-year-old parents live in council property at the top of Longworth Road, Horwich, and have done so for 5O years.

They have lived in peace and harmony with neighbours throughout the years, but, within the last five years, maybe more, their lives have been made hell by unruly children and teenagers who use the green in front of their home for games of football.

The balls constantly come into their well-tended garden, and they just run over the garden to retrieve it. What right do they have to do this? What right-minded person would not object to this?

My sisters and I were brought up to respect all adults, especially elderly ones, and to also respect property

What a disgrace that they are verbally abused and mocked by people who are evidently not taught right from wrong by their parents. In fact, one of the adults (I use this word sparingly) is openly scathing and dismissive of my parents' reasonable appeals, and, in fact, joins in with the children and teenagers, openly laughing at my dear parents as he does so.

They have just celebrated 60 years marriage and now spend their "twilight years" in dismay and upset. It would seem that respect for people and surroundings is a thing of the past.

They are constantly reporting the matter to the council and the police, because they come from a generation of people who believe in authority. I fear it's going to be another case of too little too late. When is someone going to realise we cannot continue to dismiss this as something that will go away?

My parents and, I'm sure, numerous other people deserve a voice and a right to live in peace.

Mrs Walmsley

Little Lever