Fence Vandals

The boundary fence is in tatters and the broken panels litter the back garden. But the gaping holes in pensioners Joyce and Frank Button's fence are not the result of bad weather, but the work of vandals, who have targetted the couple's home over the last four months.

"We have put up three new fence panels so far, and they have been smashed," said 75-year-old Joyce. "It's very intimidating, and I don't know what satisfaction they can possibly get from doing this.

"This has happened eight or nine times, now. Someone will make a hole in the fence, either by punching or kicking it, and then they come back to make the holes bigger," complained 76-year-old Frank.

Most of the incidents have happened when it is dark and neighbours have spotted youngsters wearing baseball caps and hooded tops cycling past and bashing the Buttons' fence.

Community police officer PC Richard Haynes was appalled when the couple told him what had happened.

"I want to send out a message to parents: Where are your children at night? Do you know what they are doing? Someone must know something about this," he said.

The couple say the cost of repairing the damage is in excess of 1,000 and they have decided to take the fence down and build a strong brick wall to protect their home, which they reckon will cost well over 2,000.

"I don't think they realise how much this costs," added Frank.

The couple moved to the bungalow in July, from Vicarage Lane. They wanted to stay in the village but needed somewhere without stairs as Joyce has had two knee operations and has difficulty walking.

They spent 35 trouble-free years in Vicarage Lane and certainly were not prepared for their experiences just down the road at Normandy Drive.

"This sort of thing just didn't happen in the old days. Yes, we played pranks when we were young, but we never wanted to cause anyone any harm," said Frank.