JUST a few days after mayhem broke out on Blackburn's Boulevard, details have emerged of a terrifying incident outside the railway station.

In broad daylight, a drunken man lunged at 10-year-old Louise French as she waited for her father to collect her. Louise came to no physical harm, but she was understandably frightened by what was clearly a very disturbing approach.

Today, her father called on all parents to ensure that their sons and daughters are not allowed into this part town. Given the degree of menace around the Boulevard, that is surely sound advice -- although many parents will already feel that 10 years old is a little young for any child to be on their own in a town centre.

The real answer to the Boulevard problem -- as this newspaper stated last week -- is for the police to tackle the menace far more robustly than it appears they have done so far.

Last week we had to endure the sight of a girl being beaten up and motorists swerving to avoid accidents as the drinkers got out of hand -- and all of this took place despite a so-called on-street drinks ban.

As for this latest incident, it is fortunate that the man who approached Louise did not have the willpower (or, because of his state, capability) of causing real harm, but it is just a matter of time before someone IS injured unless the police take forcible steps to rid us of this ugly nuisance.