BARRHEAD residents were standing up against bullying thugs terrorising their lives with vandalism and constant nuisance this week in 2003.

Residents of Kerr Street contacted the News and were willing to stand against the yobs making their lives a misery.

Fuming mum-of-two Scott Laidlaw told how vandals had made a nuisance in recent years.

But it had become even worse in recent months with bricks and stones through windows.

The extensive list since July revealed a brick through her back window and stones through the front, another two windows broken within two days, the security system and lock at the front door having to be replaced, half a dozen eggs thrown against the walls and drawing pins put through two tyres.

Mrs Laidlaw’s neighbours had so much hassle, including broken windows, that they moved out. Then teen thugs lit a firework through one of the windows.

The 54-year-old handywoman said: “The gangs of kids are running rampant. All our neighbours are sick to death about it.

“All I do is try to ignore it, but it’s hard with the buzzer going non-stop for three hours in the middle of the night.

“I dread any holiday the children get now — particularly after 4pm you can bet there’s trouble. I don’t see why they should be targeting us. We want nothing to do with them — we just want to live here.

“There’s no way I could even sell my flat. Who wants to buy into a place like this? It’s gotten worse — either it’s parental control or because children don’t take authority at all and they have more rights than adults.”

Councillor Danny Devlin said: “This type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in this community. I have been working closely with Mrs Laidlaw and local community policemen trying to identify these bullies.

“I have been assured by Superintendent Stewart Daniels that once caught, they will be dealt with harshly.”

Supt Daniels said PCs John Kelsey and Keith McLellan spoke to residents after being contacted by the News.

He added: “We are aware of the difficulties faced by a number of residents and the local community officers have spoken with them and reassured them that we will take whatever steps are necessary.”