30380/2RESIDENTS are urging police to take firmer action on problem youths who are making their lives a misery. Groups of teenagers have been hanging around the bus shelter on Mitchell Drive, Bowerhill.

Robert Smith, 77, a retired Concorde pilot who has lived on the street for three years, has written to the police and local councillors.

He said: "Every day a gang of youngsters, which has been growing in size and is now very often a dozen or more, congregate and cause mayhem. They batter the shelter, shout and scream, often using disgusting language, smoke and drink, throw litter everywhere."

He said older residents were living in fear of using the bus and the problems have escalated over the past year.

"My wife uses the bus occasionally and she's a bit nervous when there are so many of them out there."

He admitted although they have not been violent, residents still felt threatened.

"At the moment they mainly just cause irritation but it's the perceived threat. Whether any of them would get up to violence or not I don't know. "

He said their language as disgusting and the amount of litter they created as incredible.

Melksham police inspector Gary Porter has recommended treating the youngsters civilly so that they were not provoked into bad behaviour but residents think a stronger approach is essential. Mr Smith said he was verbally abused when he tried to talk to them. He said: "We have always been very supportive to the police but these days they behave in this softly, softly way and they keep saying they know who's responsible but nothing is being done."

"If the youngsters aren't controlled in some way they will turn out to be young criminals."

One of Mr Smith's neighbours, who preferred not to be named, said she was at her wits end because she had tried everything to try to tackle the problem.

On one occasion when she called the police an armed response unit came out, but the problem has not improved.

Police hope a new Police Community Safety Officer, with responsibility for Bowerhill, will help to tackle the antisocial behaviour.