The Evening Press recently reported how parents were being warned they could face eviction from their council homes in Tang Hall, York, if they let their children misbehave.

The warning leaflet followed a wave of intimidation, criminal damage, vandalism and drug-taking. We then asked readers: Are yobs spoiling your life?

Three Tang Hall women have responded by telling Chief Reporter Mike Laycock their shocking stories. Each woman asked for her identity to be protected and a false name used because of fear of reprisals.

Christine's story:

I have lived in Tang Hall for several years now, in the very heart of the trouble. It's like Beirut. Since moving in, my children and I have been made prisoners to the point that I dare not go to the local shops at night.

"I have witnessed drug-selling from the telephone box at the top of the street, which was recently destroyed by fireworks, and know of drugs being sold in several houses.

"My children dare not even play in their own back garden because if they do they get stoned by other children, sent over with a catapult as well as thrown. If my children play out in their front garden or in the street, the other children in the street beat them up.

"One time I went outside to see if my children were all OK and found a girl kicking my son in the stomach as he lay on the ground in the middle of the road.

"I have reported the incidents to all the relevant agencies (council, police and social services) and each of the agencies has said: "It is not us that you should be speaking to, it's the other agencies' problem."

"I have been told by North Yorkshire Police that the problem is that, as many of the children are under the age of ten, they are unable to take matters further.

"The children know that you and the agencies are unable to do anything, and taunt you about it. Parents should be made accountable for their children's actions.

"I am sick of requesting for a move out of the area. I was informed by my estate manager that me moving would not make the situation any better, so therefore I would not be moved. So now my children and I have to suffer in silence.

"We have been asking for someone to listen for so long that we have given up."

Gaynor's story:

There are children as young as pre-school age who are hurting other children and animals, and causing a general nuisance.

"Windows have been put through by children throwing stones, conkers and so on, sometimes using catapults, and we have been having problems with fireworks.

"You hardly dare go out, and if you do go, you are worried what you will come back to.

"It's all very well threatening to evict people, but it's no good unless they actually carry it through - otherwise it's just an empty threat. City of York Council are so slow at doing anything. People were asking for that leaflet to go out for six months.

"Many of these children aren't at school - either because they have been excluded or are truanting. The truant officer should patrol our neighbourhood to ensure they get to school."

Mary's story:

In the last 18 months, we have had our car damaged so that we eventually had to scrap it. The wing mirrors were smashed, and the car windows were smashed at least four or five times. We have also been threatened with coshes - socks with snooker balls inside.

"Some times the cars screech about until 5am, leaving us tired and at our wits' end, as the police seem powerless. We know the police do act when possible, but are as frustrated as us because when they get the yobs to court, the magistrates let them out.

"I would like to invite any magistrate to live in our home for a week. I doubt very much that the next time the local yobs appeared before them, they would let them go.

"I dare say the response will be that the prisons are full, but the whole community here says that if the yobs were terrorising tourists, the authorities would find space for them. We have to live here, bring our children up properly, paying our bills and working hard. We have rights and deserve to live without fear.

"The magistrates might say that if we made statements, we would be protected. Not so. We know people, one young boy in particular, who was beaten and robbed because his mum made a statement.

"Could the council, police, Safer York Partnership or magistrates explain to Tang Hall parents why we have had to suffer for so long or how we are supposed to get our lives back to normal once these yobs are behind bars, as the fear will probably stay with us for years?

"Many mums I know, myself included, cannot sleep properly, have panic attacks and their general health is suffering because of the stress and worry we have to suffer, mainly worrying that our children are safe or our property is not going to be vandalised. I even worry about going to the local shop."

Updated: 12:10 Monday, October 27, 2003