FOR the past few years I have lived in a relatively quiet area of Chorley.

However, over the past two months the area has become noisier and noisier -- due, in the main, to the growing number of children gathering in the locality.

For twelve hours per day and seven days per week the residents of this previously peaceful part of Chorley are subject to continuous shouting, bike riding (including down the middle of the road with no hands on the handle bars and riding on the pavement), throwing stones and so on.

Through these actions they are not only at risk of injuring themselves and other people -- but are also damaging cars parked on the road etc.

I felt I needed to write this letter in order to make parents aware of the annoyance voiced by a number of residents in the area.

Only once over the past two months have I seen a parent discipline their child with regard to their behaviour.

I have nothing against children enjoying themselves and having fun, but this should be done in a more suitable environment and not in the middle of the road.

Just around the corner is a large recreational area -- "Rangletts Rec" -- which would be ideal for the children to ride their bikes in, play football etc.

I acknowledge that it would require a parent to accompany the children -- but isn't this what are parents are for?

The parents, in this instance, appear not to care about their offspring as they are out all day, every day playing in all weathers in quite a dangerous environment with not a parent in sight.

In addition, I also fear for my property i.e. my car.

In the present situation I often feel it necessary to continuously watch out for my car - ensuring no damage is done to it by a bike handle, stone or football.

This should not be the case outside my own house.

Finally, parents please give a thought to those of us who work full-time.

The last thing we need after a long day is a bunch of noisy children outside the door every evening.

Peace and quiet for a couple of nights each week would not go amiss, as would a lie in at the weekends.

This Saturday, for example, I was woken at 8.45am to the sound of a football being kicked against a wall, which is not what you need after a week of getting up at 6.45am.

All I ask is for the parents and children to give a little consideration to the other people who live in the area -- it's not too much to ask.

Resident of Lime Grove, Chorley.