A FRIGHTENED woman is living in fear after being targeted by vandals -- as young as 10.

Linda Collinson's home is repeatedly being "stoned" and broken into by the young troublemakers and she has even had abusive graffiti daubed over her front door and walls.

The BEN revealed her plight earlier this month but the frightened woman -- who moved from the Lake District to start a new life in Bolton -- says that four weeks on her misery has increased.

The 56-year-old, who lives in Blenheim Road, Breightmet, with her 86-year-old mother and 22-year-old son, is threatening to leave Bolton for ever because of the intimidation. She claims Bolton Council housing staff told her when she complained that she should "expect" some trouble on the council estate where she lives.

Mrs Collinson said: "The problems are still carrying on, nothing has got better.

"I have now had offensive graffiti daubed on my front door and walls, one word which was very rude and about me.

"These kids are constantly banging on my door and window also. But I don't confront them because it is too dangerous for me to go out."

Mrs Collinson, who moved to Bolton four years ago from the village of Arnside, near Grange-over-Sands, to retire, said: "I complain to the council but they have done nothing.

"Once I was told by a housing staff member: ' What do you expect? You are living in a council area. It is only naturally you are going to get this aggravation'."

"I couldn't believe it," said Mrs Collinson. "They never do anything, they keep passing the buck to other people."

In the past four years Mrs Collinson says she has had fireworks thrown through her letter box, eggs and stones pelted at her windows and been sworn at when she complained.

This month she was also left with two bruised and cut legs after a boy riding a bike rode into her on the pavement.

A Bolton Council spokesman said it took complaints "very seriously" but insisted its staff had not told her she should expect trouble because of where she lived.

He added: "Our staff are trained to deal with complaints and would not make these sort of alleged comments. We have checked our records and she has not been in the office since May.

"We will look into this again, along with the comments she had made in a letter, and will visit her again and perhaps she could raise it at a residents' meeting.

"We follow up complaints but we do need as much specific detail as possible. Some families in the area have been written to about the conduct of their children. We are as anxious as the residents to stamp out any problems."