A WORRIED pensioner is pleading with councillors to shut off an alleyway plagued by vandals.

Majorie Plante handed a petition to councillors four years ago, asking if the area could be sealed off to the public.

The pensioner, of Swinton Close, St John's, started her campaign after spending around £200 in fence repairs after it was repeatedly smashed by vandals.

But the council refused her request and since then - because of illness and the constant damage - she has left it in pieces.

A police representative at the time of Mrs Plante's original complaint stated that the vandalism problem did not warrant fencing off but he would ask the local beat officer to assess the situation.

Mrs Plante then asked West Mercia police to provide a history of crime in the area.

In a five-year period going back to 1996, records for Swinton Lane and Swinton Close showed a host of reported incidents.

They included four reported incidents of fence damage, 10 thefts from motor vehicles, two house burglaries, the theft of a purse and damage to a car.

Mrs Plante's son Ian has now made a fresh call to councillors to fence off each end of the small alleyway and padlock the gates for residents' access only. "The alleyway would really only be useful to homeowners as a back entrance to the houses," he said.

"But, as none of the gardens have a back gate, it really is not of any use.

"My mother is too scared to leave the house and go out into the garden after the vandalism."

Although the councillor for Bedwardine, David Clark, sympathised with Mrs Plante, he said it was a long and complex process to shut off what, in essence, was a public right of way.

"By all means she can talk to planning officers, but I can't see them agreeing to padlock off the alley," he said.

Peter Yates, principal planning officer at Worcester City Council, confirmed it would be extremely difficult to close off the public walkway.