AN ANGRY Kesgrave resident today hit out at groups of youths she claims are causing havoc in parts of the town.and use the garden as a cut-through to the Penzance Road shops.

AN ANGRY Kesgrave resident today hit out at groups of youths she claims are causing havoc in parts of the town.

Barbara Smith has lived in Padstow Road for more than 30 years and said in recent years youngsters have started jumping over garages at the end of her garden to retrieve footballs, and use the garden as a cut-through to the Penzance Road shops.

Her claims come after Evening Star reader Rita Sharber told how she had the garden walls at her Edmonton Close home knocked down and is regularly subjected to offensive taunting.

Mrs Smith, 55, who lives with husband Graham, 56, said: “It's getting beyond a joke now. They kick their ball against the garages at the end of our garden and if it comes into the garden they climb on the garages and shout to us to throw it back.

“They also use the garden as a cut-through. They use such offensive language, they are very abusive.

“I have a young grandson and you are always worrying about what's going to happen next. We dread the summer holidays because that's when it's really bad.”

Mrs Smith said she had contacted Suffolk Heritage Housing Association who owns the flats and garages in Heathview, which backs on to her garden, but had been told there was little which could be done.

Caroline Smith, regional director for Suffolk Heritage Housing Association, said that the problem of youths climbing onto garage roofs was only recently brought to their attention.

She said: “We were advised by a resident last week that the problem had died down.

“The police have been involved in investigating the matter and if our tenants or their visitors are found to be involved, then we will consider what action we, as landlord, can take.

“In the meantime, we are in contact with the police to establish if there is any information they can share with us and we are researching types of anti-climbing methods that we can use to alleviate the problem.”

Do you think there is a problem with anti-social behaviour in Kesgrave? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk