After what seemed like the longest of winters, we have been able to enjoy several warm and sunny weeks, with the promise of more to come.

Annoyingly enough, one of the downsides of better weather is an upturn in reported incidences of anti-social behaviour.

In the last few weeks, I have heard again from residents who live close to or who use local parks and open spaces where they have been confronted by youths congregating noisily.

It is generally a seasonal issue and reflects the perceived lack of opportunities for those no longer of school age or just leaving who are otherwise without more productive distractions. Recent figures suggest East Renfrewshire has seen a significant spike in these incidents.

Statistics from Police Scotland reveal a 21% increase in public-reported anti-social behaviour in East Renfrewshire. The statistics from 2016/17 to 2017/18 show that incidents have risen from 3,010 to 3,640 – the equivalent of 10 per day.

It is likely the increase is actually higher, with the statistics only covering reported incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Other crimes such as thefts and housebreaking can also be seen to be on the rise.

The data, while not official statistics, relates mainly to crime recorded by Police Scotland. It covers the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018.

As always, residents should report incidences where they occur and I will be contacting local police to suggest that, at the very least, they consider random drop-bys of known hot-spots during the summer.

The Barrhead News has, quite rightly, highlighted such anti-social behaviour and, in doing so, continues to provide a unique service to East Renfrewshire.

There is no other commercially available local newspaper anywhere within the authority.

It has been years since the days of The Eastwood Mercury and, in the Eastwood side of the local authority area, The Extra – which, at one time, was delivered to most households – is now largely available only at shopping centres and public facilities.

However, nothing can compete with the dedicated team at the Barrhead News, which provides a comprehensive and widespread local news service.

Local residents should appreciate just what a community advantage this provides. Well done!

Returning to the weather, it is worth noting that, as the summer of 1918 progressed, it was unsettled and damp.

Some 25 million people died of the Spanish Flu.

It was also a time when the First World War drew to its close.

These last few years, we have marked the centenary of battles which saw extraordinary sacrifice and loss of life, such as Ypres (1914/15), Verdun (1916), the Somme (1916), Passchendaele (1917) and Amiens (1918).

Some 17 million people died – seven million civilians and 10 million soldiers.

Around 700,000 of them were British – men and women from Barrhead and elsewhere in East Renfrewshire.

We Shall Remember Them.