I read with interest your article 'Children need a place to play' (Malvern Gazette, May 7), with the lovely picture of the play area in Elgar Avenue.

What a shame you did not take a close-up picture of the play area and surrounding area, and show the people reading your paper the used hypodermic syringes from drug-takers, the broken bottles from under-age drinkers and also the squashed empty beer cans, which are just as dangerous.

I lived in that block of houses in Elgar Avenue for 21 years. The older residents who now complain about the children playing out the back and in the gardens seem to have forgotten that their own children played out there when it was far more dangerous, as at that time there were garages all the way down the middle and cars could not see who was there until they turned the corner.

There was a 'no ball games' sign up, which was largely ignored as all of the children played out there, as they do now, on their bikes and playing ball.

I went to see Mr Elger, head housing officer, for Elgar Housing, on behalf of the residents. He agreed that in the light of what we told him about the play area, that the play facilities were not adequate for the children to play in.

All Elgar did was threaten action if the children continued to play within the block, where they are safe, where parents can watch them, where they can quickly run home if something happens, without having to cross a very busy road. Cars coming on to the car park can see instantly where the children are.

In this day and age, with child abductions and murders, is it safe for children to play in a park with two alleyways each end? For these very reasons, my children and those of the older neighbours were not allowed to play in the park, they had to play close to home and all those years ago, it was safer than it is now.

I would like to ask the older residents, how would they feel if their grandchildren were treated the same way they are treating those young children and they had nowhere to play? And how would they feel if their grandchildren played in their own garden with a sponge ball and the police were called because the ball went into a neighbouring garden? Especially if when they knocked on the door to ask for it back, they did not get an answer, so very carefully they picked it up and ran home - watched by their parents who knew no damage had been caused. Would they want their grandchildren to play in the park with all those hidden dangers? I think not.

Ms Jayne Frost, Clare Road, Malvern.