RESIDENTS living near Burcher Green and Offmore shopping centres in Kidderminster have been fed-up with "intimidation" from gangs of youngsters. Now they have two reasons to be cheerful - the police have acted to drive the key troublemakers away, and moves are afoot to ensure kids causing problems in the area can never again cite lack of facilities and boredom. JANE ABBOTT reports.

ROSE Bishop is a woman who perfectly fits the description "tough cookie".

She has been at the forefront of moves to confront the youngsters who are making lives a misery in her neighbourhood - and has never once flinched from her task, even when yobs issued personal threats against her if she "grassed".

Her aim has been to improve life for residents in the area. Now, after years of problems, she has finally got her way.

Police have successfully applied for anti-social behaviour orders against two men from the estate, Keith Dockerty and Brett Pearson, banning them from the area and curbing their behaviour. A similar fate awaits three juveniles due in court soon. Rose Bishop, who has led moves to confront young yobs.

At the same time an action group has persuaded housing company chiefs to set aside cash to improve youth facilities in the area.

In fact, the court hearings alone have prompted a change in mood.

"The court cases have been a victory for team work and for community effort. It shows what can happen if people stand up against this sort of behaviour and get the agencies like the police and the council to back them.

"It's taken a long time but we are finally getting there," said Mrs Bishop.

"Things aren't perfect - but things have certainly improved. Instead of calling out the police several times a night we are down to just once or twice a week.

"Everyone I speak to has comments on how much better things are. Some people are still afraid - we can't erase months and years of fear at a stroke - but they are certainly happier."

Mrs Bishop, 52, has lived on the estate for nearly 19 years.

She used to take her daughter - now a teenager - to Brownies at the nearby church hall and would then "keep guard" outside with another mum to fend off harassment from gangs outside.

Mrs Bishop, who also works at one of the shops in Burcher Green, added: "I used to worry about how many of them there would be outside when I was on a late shift and was walking home.

"But I refuse to be intimidated. I have seen many of these lads and girls grow up from babies so they don't frighten me, but I can see how they would frighten someone else.

"Their behaviour just makes me angry."

In the last year or so the number of incidents of intimidation and harassment have risen, along with the number of complaints to the police.

"It got to the stage where people were threatening to take action themselves against these kids if the police didn't solve the problems."

The most important thing is that the approach has not been "all stick", said Mrs Bishop.

"There is some carrot involved as well.

"We know there are lots of good kids here who are just bored so we want to try to improve facilities for them."