PENSIONERS including a 95-year-old woman on a Kidderminster estate are being forced to live in fear by youths carrying out a reign of terror.

And residents of the Wrekin Close bungalows have slammed the culprits who have subjected them to a torrid ordeal of verbal abuse, vandalism and theft for several months.

The nightmare on the Birchen Coppice estate has included car windows being smashed and daubed with graffiti, garden tools, plants, hanging baskets and ornaments being stolen and litter thrown into gardens.

More incidents of criminal damage and theft in Wrekin Close were reported to police at the weekend.

The pensioners have now sent a petition to Wyre Forest District Council calling for increased fencing to be placed around their properties.

One 67-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, contacted the Shuttle/Times & News in a desperate plea to appeal to the better conscience of the youths.

She said: "This is so terrifying, frightening and unnerving for us all. Many people cannot imagine how disturbing it is to know somebody has been right outside your front window when it's dark.

"This would be alarming for most folk, let alone elderly and defenceless people who live on their own."

She highlighted one particularly cruel incident when youths were frightened off in the early hours while trying to steal a gazebo which an elderly woman had set up in her back garden for a birthday barbecue.

She said: "It was a very large gazebo which the lady's daughter had hired and she woke at about 2.30am to discover the youths untying the ropes attaching it to the house.

"The lady was reduced to tears by the incident and the gazebo wasn't even hers.

"The party went ahead but the whole episode dampened everyone's spirits."

The woman, who has lived in Wrekin Close for two years, said: "People are actually taking garden tools out of their sheds now and putting them in their homes because the sheds are so vulnerable."

She added: "One man went outside recently and was heartbroken to find his car windows smashed in.

"His car provides one of his few chances to get out of the area and that was taken away while the windows were repaired.

"It's the same when items are stolen from the gardens. Sitting outside when the weather is nice is the only chance many of the residents have to get out of their homes, but they then find garden chairs have been taken."

Sgt Jim Baker, of Kidderm-inster Police west division which covers the Birchen Coppice estate, said the force was aware of an ongoing problem in the area but believed the number of incidents was being reduced.

He said: "The problems in Wrekin Close have lessened but it is an area where residents have had cause for concern.

"However, prior to several calls we received from residents there this weekend, we had only dealt with four complaints in the last 50 days."

He added: "Crime in the west division between April and July is down by 19 per cent compared to the same months last year.

"We are making progress, but we do appreciate the problems for residents there and are prepared to increase police presence of both regular and special constables should the incidents become any more extreme."