[Gayle]

I think I've seen the forming of a plan!

Today I had to shout at two different groups of 10/11/12 year old boys for two different reasons. The first ones were dead heading the hanging baskets and plants outside the Stop and Rest with big sticks and the second lot wandered into my back garden without asking (they said they were looking for the local lost cat but they'd mistaken my cat for it).

Anyway, I was cross with both groups for what was basically being inconsiderate. After I'd calmed down and started to think about it I began to think that they were just bored. Six weeks of holiday but they had nothing to do - the first group were roaming the streets looking for something to do and admittedly the second group thought they were doing something constructive by searching for the lost cat.

So, my point is that it is at that age that we need to reach the kids - we need football coaching, drama sessions, organised events, music lessons, and all manner of other things organised by the community and mostly free so that it doesn't exclude anyone.