TEENAGE terror Sarah Martin may have been sentenced to four years in custody -- but residents in Warndon still live in fear of abusive teenagers.

Some are concerned that with Martin gone, other youths will take over her position as "ringleader" of the gangs.

Residents have become so terrified of youth gangs, that many who spoke to the Evening News about their relief that Martin had been taken off the streets wouldn't give their names because they feared retaliatory attacks.

"It's about time she was put behind bars," said one resident summing up a lot of the feeling in the estate.

"When she's not on the scene, things are better," said one person who worked in the area.

"I would say nine out of 10 people around here would know the name Sarah Martin," said a third.

"She's such a nice-looking girl, it's hard to believe she could do this," added another.

A number of residents said there had been a drop in anti-social behaviour in the area over the past few weeks.

But shattered glass spilling over the street from a vandalised phone box yards from where Martin carried out her attack stands as a reminder that all is still not well in the estate.

Bob Hudson, who lives in Warndon, said there were plenty of troublemakers who would take on the role of ringleader.

"It's a case of the king is dead, long live the king," he said.

"The girls are just as bad as the lads."

Mr Hudson is trying to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in a bid to stop the teenage gangs terrorising the streets.

"The police can't do it on their own, they need our help," he said.

"For 30 years I was in scouting and I have a lot of time for young people."

Mr Hudson called for the council to have more activities for young people available to give them something to do, such as car maintenance courses.

"It's very said that kids like this make such a bad start in life," he said.