GANGS of marauding yobs have turned life into a living hell for a group of pensioners. One 87-year-old even told the Star that he was too terrified to look out of his own windows any more in case it led to an attack from the youths.

Old folks in in Grange Park describe how they have been suffering at the hands of hooligans in the neighbourhood who have been terrorising them and making their lives a misery.

The Upland Close Active Pensioners Association have reported how youths have been vandalising, stealing from properties and verbally abusing elderly residents.

They also say that derelict buildings in Portico and on the Grange Park Estate have contributed to their situation, attracting vandals, rubbish and vermin.

In a statement to the Star, residents detailed the abuse they have been suffering: "Local youths terrorise us, throwing eggs and golf balls, breaking into sheds and stealing garden furniture, threatening pets and giving foul verbal abuse. We are afraid to set foot outside our homes after dark."

The pensioners are pleading to councillors and the police to take note of their situation: "We are elderly people in the final phase of our lives. All we ask is to live together peacefully with our neighbours."

One eighty-seven-year-old local man described how the situation is getting worse: "Now we are even too scared to look out of our windows. We have reported this to lots of people on many occasions but no one seems to be listening to us."

A spokesperson for St Helens Council said: "The council is aware of the problems being experienced by tenants of the Riverside Housing Association. The surrounding council properties are the subject of a modernisation programme work on which has now started. Any vacant properties will be improved in the early stages of this programme so that the properties can be re-let."

"There is also a programme of demolition within the estate area which will also assist in the upgrading of the estate and its environment. The council is working closely with the police in tackling the issues of vandalism and anti-social behaviour with local youths."

"There has been some recent successes against particular individuals and the council will remain committed to working with partners to continue to improve the situation in the area."