SHOPKEEPER David Stocks-borough says badly behaved teenagers in Stratton are making his life a misery.

Since he and his wife Pat took over the convenience store in Grange Drive, children aged as young as 13 have been breaking the shop's windows, spitting on the glass, giving verbal abuse and shoplifting.

And the trader has an idea why his store is under siege.

"We are very strict against serving cigarettes and drink to people who are under age, and that could be it," he said.

"We won't serve if people are under age, and when we don't they go away and tell the police that we do. We are damned if we sell to them and damned if we don't."

Mr Stocksborough has repor-ted the trouble to police but says that by the time they respond, the perpetrators are long gone.

"The police always seem to be stretched," he said.

"We've talked to all and sundry and nobody wants to know.

"The police are all right when they come down here, but it is always a few hours later and all the children have disappeared.

"It has made us very dep-ressed, all we want to do is set a business up."

Geoff Hicks, Swindon's licensing officer, said police have investigated the situation on a number of occasions and have offered help.

He said: "We have spoken to Mr Stocksborough about his problems and we have given him certain advice which has led to him reviewing security.

"Police are aware of the situation and make visits wher-ever possible."