Buckfast jobs' reign of terror

A group of up to 15 teenagers have regularly been congregating on the walkway which meanders around the marshland, drinking Buckfast and Mad Dog 20/20.

Dog walkers who regularly use the route have been subjected to verbal abuse and have reported seeing the teenagers throwing bottles and large rocks at swans.

Police officers, who were called to the scene last Wednesday at 8pm to deal with the group by a concerned resident, later returned to their squad car parked on Skye Road to find two large score marks had been scratched into the paintwork on the bonnet and the side of the vehicle.

Laura Hayes, who lives in Seafar and often walks her dog on the path, is disgusted by the behaviour she has witnessed.

The 46-year-old said: "There's a lot of elderly people down there and everyone's absolutely terrified of them because they're really aggressive. I've brought up two boys and I always knew where they were, what they were doing and if they were going to be late they would phone and let me know.

"Then you look at these youths and they're absolutely out of their faces on drink and goodness knows what. You wonder where the parents are - are they just sitting in the house out of their faces not caring what their kids are up to?

"They've absolutely ruined it for everyone, the water is just full of their empty bottles and rubbish."

Sections of the boardwalk have been set alight and ripped up from the base causing the decking to be unstable in parts.

When walking their dogs last Wednesday evening, Laura and a friend noticed the rowdy group attempting to hit a flock of swans with bricks.

She added: "The splashes were huge and I thought if I don't do something those birds are going to be killed. I got my mobile out and called the SSPCA. They saw me on the phone and must've thought it was the police so they started shouting abuse and obsenities at us and giving us the finger.

"We turned and were walking back and five of them broke-off and were following us. We cut-up a different way through the houses and we could see them coming out down at the pitches as if they thought that's where we were going.

"If they decide to turn on you there's no where to run and if they'll attack a police car what chance have two women got?"

Householders whose homes back onto the conservation area have also reported youths peering through their windows.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said; "I've lived here for 20 years and we've never ever had any bother until now.

"The group used to gather up at the Astroturf pitches but were getting moved on so now this seems to be their new spot. I know they're not all bad but these days you don't know what they're carrying or what they could do to you."

If you have information regarding any of the incidents mentioned please contact police on 503900 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

lTwo 16-year-old boys were arrested for alleged fire raising at the Ravenswood Nature Reserve on April 2.

Police say the pair stole a number of wheelie bins from nearby properties and set them on fire in the wooded area of the beauty spot.

CHIEF Inspector Brian Connell sought to assure residents his officers will be monitoring the area.

He said: "We have been in receipt of a number of complaints and reports of street drinking in this area. As a result we have instigated directed patrols and over the past few weeks this has resulted in the issue of over 20 Anti Social Behaviour fixed penalties and a number of parental alert letters in respect of young persons.

"We will continue to target this area and apply robust policing methods in respect of both the young persons and their parents."

TOM Gatherer, deputy chief superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, said the Ravenswood swans may have to be moved for their own safety.

He said the organisation are investigating how best to protect the swans.

He explained: "We understand that the swans have not yet nested, but that this is a regular nesting site so we are currently assessing whether it is appropriate to move the swans to another location for their safety.

"Swans are territorial birds so they may return to this spot and may be targeted by the youths again."