THE six teenagers shift about uncomfortably with a glare that hovers between menacing and simple curiosity.

Their bodies loll over the railings of their gathering point at the pavilion in the King George V Playing Fields in Brickfields, Worcester. Some are sucking on cigarettes and others give loud sniffs, wiping their noses with the back of their hands as they attempt to retain their 'cool' image. Like a uniform representing their friendship, they all sport variations of the same outfit - tracksuit bottoms, T-shirts, baseball caps and the one item of clothing that has been the surprising subject of controversy this week, hooded tops.

Managers at the country's largest shopping centre - Bluewater in Kent - have decided to ban all youngsters from wearing 'hoodies', following complaints from customers.

In the playing field in Worcester, the teens sigh with relief at the news that the city's CrownGate and Cathedral Plaza shopping centres aren't planning on following suit.

"I just don't understand banning hoodies. It's ridiculous," said 17-year-old Adam Harris.

As he re-adjusts his cap, fellow teenager David Hilton, aged 16, nods in agreement, adding: "We wear hoodies because it's the fashion, not because we want to cover our faces up and hide away from CCTV cameras so that we can go out and mug an old lady."

They all coil in anger when an excerpt from a tabloid is read out to them, in which a top British policeman claims drunken abusive yobs are intimidating neighbourhoods, forcing law-abiding families to live in fear.

"The only reason we come here is to play football and have a laugh," said Ben Sheppard, aged 16. "We're not out to cause trouble yet we'll get stopped just because there's a gang of us."

Adam is also on the defensive. "We don't purposely hang around in gangs to intimidate people. The more of us there is, the more fun we have and the more we can do."

As more quotes from Chief Superintendent David Baines, of Greater Manchester Police, are read out, lambasting teenagers for having little control of their own behaviour and no fear for the criminal justice system, the gang's feathers are clearly ruffled.

"I definitely fear going to prison," said Adam. "I can understand why older people might see us and be scared but it's wrong to judge you just by what you are wearing and how many there are of you."

Steven Pearson, aged 15, added: "It's like we're being picked on. You shouldn't class all young people as the same. Just because we hang around and wear certain clothes, it doesn't make us criminals." And the youngsters were quick to criticise Tony Blair, whose warning that a 'culture of disrespect' is sweeping Britain was this week highlighted in the Queen's speech."I don't think we're disrespectful," said David. "And anyway, respect has to work both ways."

Not everyone agrees. Pensioner Arthur Morgan, aged 77, of Claines, said youngsters are getting out of control. "They seem to be so much more aggressive these days," he said. "When I was a kid you would get a clip around the ears but nowadays parents seem to be frightened to do anything to keep them in line in case it gets them into trouble. And if these gangs say anything to you, you're too afraid to stick up for yourself in case you have a brick through your window.

"I can't see the sense in hooded tops either, especially when it's not cold. I think they're just using them to disguise their faces when they're up to something mischievous."

However, not every adult seems to share Arthur's opinion.

Carolyn Mantle, manager of CrownGate, added: "I've got a 15-year-old nephew who lives in hooded tops and he wouldn't dream of doing anything offensive or that would break the law. For me to ban those fashions seems completely unjustified."

Terry Denslow, deputy head of the Worcestershire Youth Service, added: "There's an awful lot of positive activity by young people who may, on first glance, seem to be either threatening or not compliant with other people's convictions.

"We've got exceptional youngsters around Worcestershire doing great services to the community and I think we're often too quick to forget that."

So should we be worried about the state of our youth? A stone's throw away from the Brickfields gang, a group of silver-haired pensioners dressed in crisp white shirts and trousers enjoy a game of bowls, seemingly undeterred by the youngsters.

Maybe it's time we take a leaf out of their books, and start trying to live in harmony?