SHE is an 83-year-old woman who just wants to live out the twilight of her life in peace.

But every evening she says is terrorised by a gang of yobs at her sheltered housing flat at Lupin Court in Upper Stratton.

She says they throw eggs, stones and, on one occasion, a motorcycle helmet.

This all happens because a public footpath runs behind her flat which her bedroom and living room windows face onto.

The pensioner, a former nurse from Wootton Bassett, now lives in fear, and just cowers in her living room when she hears the nightly knocking on her window.

Now, Sanctuary Housing Association is moving her to a different flat which does not face onto the footpath where all the trouble is.

The pensioner, who is too scared to reveal her name because she fears reprisals from the yobs, is now calling on the police to do something about it.

She said: "The caretaker here is brilliant and I've got no complaints about Sanctuary Housing especially since they are moving me now.

"I moved in four years ago, and it was quite bad, but it then petered out.

"But about three weeks ago it all started again and it's worse than ever.

"I've called the police, but there isn't much they can do as the yobs just run off straight away so I never see who they are."

In a recent incident a gang had pulled the electrical wiring off her outside wall. This was immediately fixed by the caretaker.

For the woman the scariest time was when the motorcycle helmet was thrown at the window.

She said: "I was in the front room and it made the loudest bang on my bedroom window. It was like a bomb going off and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"I'm a frail old lady and this kind of thing is no good for my health.

"The man who lived here before me used to run outside with his walking stick and chase these yobs off, but I was advised not to do that as anything could happen.

"No-one should have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

"These kids don't have any respect and there's always mess everywhere when I go outside.

"Something has got to be done, although even though I'm moving the next resident will only have to face the same sort of thing."

Swindon police were unavailable for comment.

Jamie Hill