A RANDY couple having sex in a communal garden is the latest problem to blight people living in a block of sheltered housing.

The seedy encounter is one of a series of yobbish acts making life a misery for residents living in Keswick Drive and neighbouring Langdale Close, Warndon.

Now, some of the 32 residents are calling for a metal fence and security gate to be put up to keep people out of their communal garden. Lynn Henry, who is disabled, discovered the couple having sex against her wall down a grubby back alley running under the balcony of her home a fortnight ago.

Mrs Henry, who suffers from asthma and a heart condition, was rehomed after fleeing domestic violence but says she is now once again living in fear.

"They were having sex right under the balcony of my home," she said. "He had his trousers down and she had her knickers round her ankles.

"I said excuse me, what do you think you're doing? This is our garden.' "I told them to get out. He said mind your own business' and swore at me. Then he threw a bin bag at me."

The 57-year-old is now demanding that Worcester Community Housing, which manages the properties, put up spiked metal and gates with a pin entry code.

She says an unlocked wooden gate means anyone can get into their garden and parts of the wooden perimeter fence are also falling down.

Mrs Henry, who is on income support and disability living allowance, added: "I have just had enough.

"I'm supposed to be in a safe house through domestic violence. I feel fed-up, used and dumped.

"Why don't Worcester Community Housing do something? It's better to be a prisoner behind iron railings than to suffer this."

Residents, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s, have also complained of: l Youngsters riding their bikes across the lawn despite signs saying no cycling' l People using the gardens as a public thoroughfare despite signs telling people access is for residents and visitors only.

l Doorbells being rung in the middle of the night by youngsters who then run away l Being afraid to leave their homes at night.

l Fear of having their windows smashed by vandals.

l Thefts of property, including plant pots and a bird bath.

l Litter being dropped and the gardens being poorly maintained.

Mrs Henry is backed by other residents, including Terry Walsh, aged 68, from Langdale Close, who said: "We are being terrorised here. We don't need all this at our age. We want more security."

Emily Williams, aged 82, from Langdale Close, said: "You worry when you hear about things being taken. You wonder whether your windows are going to be smashed. My door bell has been rung late at night."

A community safety spokesman for Worcester Community Housing said they had received only one complaint which had been dealt with and had not been told of any further problems.

He added: "It's certain there are some problems with some youths playing football and drinking in that part of Warndon.

"We are working closely with the police and Worcester City Council's detach team to divert this behaviour.

"To consider putting in a metal perimeter fence, we would need to know the extent of the problem before we made an investment like that."