The lives of disabled people in a Fife town have been made a ”living hell” thanks to a campaign of terror by children as young as six, it has been claimed.
Residents in wheelchair-access houses in Boyle Drive, Rosyth, have endured a campaign of vandalism and abuse, leading police to step up security in the area.
Children have smashed windows, lights and satellite dishes, set fences on fire and hurled verbal abuse at the residents.
Police have now placed a security light and will step up patrols in the area in an attempt to deter the young vandals.
Marina Stark (64) said her life had been made a ”living hell” as groups of kids hang around her home. She saus she has asked Fife Council to be moved three times.
She said: ”The kids are wild. They’re making everyone’s lives around here a misery, and the council doesn’t seem bothered about it.
”We’ve had stones thrown at our car, at our windows, and our Sky dish smashed. It’s getting worse and we’re just being left to get on with it.”
Police called a community meeting last week to discuss how people had been doing in their new homes but disabled residents raged about the damage caused by local kids while parents complained that there is no play park on the estate.
Mrs Stark suffers from chronic arthritis and epilepsy brought on after having a cardiac arrest four years ago.
Her husband John (63) no longer works as a taxi driver so he can look after his wife.
Mrs Stark, a mother of seven grown-up children, said: ”This was supposed to be a quiet place for us but it’s far from that.”
Billy Hutchison (47), who is in a wheelchair, had his fence set on fire and feels he had no other option than to move away.
He said: ”We’re just lucky that the fire didn’t catch. If it had, how am I going to get out of the house?”
Fife police inspector John Lawson said: ”We are aware of the issues raised in Boyle Drive and patrols will be increased in the street to allow us to assess the problems.
”We will be working with the residents’ association and our partner agencies to address any issues found.”
Osato Osaghae, Fife Council’s area housing and neighbourhoods services manager, said: ”I’d ask anyone who has any concerns about vandalism or crime to contact the police straight away.
”A meeting has been arranged with residents to talk through setting up a tenants’ and residents’ association.”