BOY racers and teenage vandals are making the lives of some Cambourne residents a misery - with one family too scared to open their curtains after eggs were thrown at their windows. At a meeting of Cambourne Parish Council last Tuesday, 15 residents plead

BOY racers and teenage vandals are making the lives of some Cambourne residents a misery - with one family too scared to open their curtains after eggs were thrown at their windows.

At a meeting of Cambourne Parish Council last Tuesday, 15 residents pleaded with councillors to help stop the anti-social behaviour taking place near their homes.

One resident, who lives opposite the tennis courts in Back Lane, Great Cambourne, told the meeting that on a number of occasions she had seen youths "destroying the tennis nets and climbing all over them." The woman added: "Every time I have confronted them, they have egged my house and it has got to the stage that I am too scared to open my curtains. It is unacceptable that youths are allowed to get away with this sort of behaviour."

Another woman described seeing cars "whizzing up and down a narrow path while parents and children made their way to and from the tennis courts."

Addressing the council, resident Nick Collett added: "We have a huge problem with vandals near the tennis courts.

"They have their car stereos on loud and I have even witnessed drugs deals in the area.

"All this goes on until about 1am. It is having an effect on our families and it is becoming a major concern for us."

South Cambridgeshire district councillor David Morgan promised: "We are here for you and this yobbish behaviour is not acceptable."

Residents requested that the tennis courts lights be switched off earlier as they believed they were "attracting the youths".

As a temporary measure, the installation of a CCTV camera was suggested and the council promised to turn off the tennis court lights earlier.

The parish council is now in the process of setting up a public meeting with the police to address the residents' concerns. Chairman of Cambourne parish council, Cllr Ruth Poulton, said she was very sorry for what the residents have had to put up with.

"We are concerned that this has become a very grave issue. We should call a public meeting with the police for residents to address these concerns as these things should not be happening. This is the thing that spoils Cambourne.