THE introduction to today's Front Page lead might easily have read like this: "Speeding drivers tearing along a Worcester street in clapped-out cars have mown a queue of pedestrians down in front of terrified residents."

Who knows how close the circumstances in Brickfields have brought us to that, or how frequently in recent weeks. It doesn't take much imagination to consider the consequences.

In the face of significant public concern, the police have already brought one offender to book. And, according to Brickfields beat manager PC Adrian Brooks, the streets are now quiet.

If there's one positive fact in this, it's that the cars being raced around the streets aren't stolen. At least the young tearaways are using their own vehicles.

Of course, this generation isn't the first to include young men who are hooked on the products of speed, the thrills which come with risk, the opportunity to show off in front of an audience. It won't be the last.

While video cars can provide the evidence to take a culprit to court and convict him, though, prevention is surely better than cure.

Residents and police seem to be at odds about whether the young hotheads may have departed the scene for now, but they are united in one thing - they don't want them back.

Education, surely, must play a major part in that.

Residents know who the potential killers are. Registration numbers will lead easily to home addresses. The rest is up to the community.