HOME care assistant Dawn Parkinson is sick of her old ladies living in fear of leaving their homes.

She is fed up of them feeling lonely.

And she is depressed by troublesome youngsters getting away with unruly behaviour because people are scared of them.

In the past few months, Dawn, a mum of three, has become so angry she has taken on young culprits herself.

She has challenged stone-throwing youths in The Avenue, Leigh, bottle smashing gangs near her mum's home, and boys vandalising a lamp standard in Dakins Road, Leigh.

And she says once you talk to them intelligently most are not bad children, just misguided.

Now she wants people to stand up as a majority to help wipe out the horrors of day to day living for the elderly.

She says groups could be set up to fight for a change in the law to make the punishment fit the crime, and talk to the parents of nuisance children. The police could also be brought in to give talks on how to make a citizen's arrest and what they can do to help.

Dawn, of Wigshaw Close, Leigh, (pictured with her son Danny Joe) said: "I have not turned one woman vigilante. Just by talking, I have actually got youngsters to apologise to me for throwing stones at my car, and I have made them sweep up broken glass.

"Only recently I saw four or five 12-year-olds take the front off a lamp post and pull out the wires.

"I get a mouthful, but with a bit of logical thinking you can make them see sense that their actions are dangerous to themselves and others.

"If all the good people would decide to act we could make a difference.

"We don't want old people to have to live in this sick society, and if there's enough good people of similar hearts and minds willing to stand up we can make things better for them.

"I am sick of my old people being frightened to death, of selfish people and do-gooders making things worse.

"There's a saying 'evil runs rife when good men do nothing'. I am sure there are enough decent people, who feel like me, who could get together to help rid society of its menaces.

"Most are not bad kids at heart, and with a bit of talking to can be made to see sense.

"People have got to be willing to stand up and do something. I have seen such decay in Leigh over recent years. People point a finger at the drunks in the town centre, but they don't do any harm, they just want to be left alone. It's those living on your own doorstep that are the problem.

"Somehow we've got to make Parliament realise we are not going to put up with this garbage any more."

Dawn would like to hear from anyone of a like mind who would be willing to set up a discussion group. She can be contacted through The Journal.

What do you think? Write to The Journal, 44-46, Railway Road, Leigh, WN7 4AT.

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