The one-page letter from the police and Chichester District Council, seen by the Observer, claimed youngsters were riding bikes and playing football in the road and on neighbours' property in Foxbridge Drive and Outram Way, Hunston.

It asked parents to 'respect their neighbours' and advise their children to play away from the road and others' property.

Father-of-three Gary Welch, of Foxbridge Drive, was alarmed to find the letter on his doormat when he got back from holiday.

"It just seemed a bit over the top and heavy-handed to suddenly be faced with this letter from the police pretty much saying 'make your children stay indoors and not play outside'.

"I thought it was almost one step away from an ASBO."

Mr Welch (43) added: "I just feel as though they are blanketing everyone's kids as delinquents."

Father-of-two Mark Chapman, also of Foxbridge Drive, said it was a 'slur on the many good children and parents in this road'.

"It is very upsetting to have my children referred to as a nuisance and annoying, with no evidence showing that's the case.

"Newspapers have to be careful about what they write – why not the council and police? They seem to have chosen to tar my family with a brush that says 'anti-social'."

Mr Chapman, a search marketing manager for Chichester online marketing firm Fuse, added: "A blanket letter like this has put people's backs up without offering a single solution about where children can play, or even arresting anyone who might be criminal."

And it has left his eldest daughter Amber (nine) scared and confused.

"I'm frightened to go outdoors now in case I'm told off or shouted at. Where do I play?" she said.

Both parents said youngsters were left to play outside their homes because the nearest council-maintained play space was half a mile away and involved negotiating the busy B2145.

Mr Chapman said instead of 'picking on' youngsters playing in the neighbourhood, police and council workers should instead targetspeeding motorists who put children's safety at risk.

"Everyone is concerned about motorists who drive too fast onto the drive and Outram Way – children are likely to be hit. Like me, they wonder where their children can play at all."

Mr Chapman has fired off letters to both the council and police asking for an explanation for the letter, and is awaiting a response.



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