Residents' lives made a misery

Abusive children are making life a misery for residents on a Norfolk housing estate, with one couple taking refuge with friends for some peace and quiet because the situation is so stressful.

Abusive children are making life a misery for residents on a Norfolk housing estate, with one couple taking refuge with friends for some peace and quiet because the situation is so stressful.

The problem started as a difference of opinion between residents at Ferguson Way, in Attleborough as to whether youngsters should be allowed to play football in the street outside people's homes.

But the situation has now become intolerable, with those who complain about the soccer playing being subjected to verbal abuse, and being made to feel a prisoner in their own homes, according to resident Georgeta Brock, 55, who is taking legal advice over the issue.

“For years and years we had this problem with children playing football in the street to the annoyance of most of us, because the ball bounces in everybody's front garden, on doors, and windows, cars or plants. Talking to the parents is a waste of time, they don't see anything wrong with their kids trampling all over private properties without the consent of the owners,” she said.

“If I look out through the window and the kids are there, they pull faces at me and make all kind of disgusting gestures. We started finding empty alcohol cans or bottles in our front garden, or different kinds of rubbish.”

Other residents living in the close have had fences damaged and property vandalised in recent weeks.

Mrs Brock and her husband Don, 75, have contacted the police and district council to complain, as well as spending more than £700 installing CCTV cameras at their home as a deterrent.

But Mrs Brock says the anti-social behaviour continues, and last week she raised the issue during the town council meeting with the Attleborough safer neighbourhood team.

“All this is having a devastating effect on our lives and health. In October last year my husband spent a night in Norwich hospital with heart failure due to all this stress, and depression has become a permanent companion for us,”

She added that a neighbouring couple has been spending time with friends because of the on-going problems.

A police spokesman said: “This is exactly the type of feedback we welcome at our safer neighbourhood team events and one of the key reasons why the teams attend public events. We commend members of the public for letting us know about the issues that affect their local communities and for keeping us informed. Regular contact with the public on such issues as anti-social behaviour is very important to us and enables us to address those issues and take appropriate action.”

He added: “In relation to anti-social behaviour at Ferguson Way, I can confirm we have had a small number of calls. Officers have attended and spoken to the youngsters.