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Yobs terrorize bowlers

Eve Dugdale
6/ 5/2004

PENSIONERS enjoying a quiet game of bowls are being terrorised by yobs who expose themselves and steal their bowls.

It has got so bad that members of Stamford Park crown green bowling club say the stress could lead to one of them having a heart attack.

Alan Hooper, of Acres Lane said: "Youths steal bowls, play soccer on the greens, expose themselves and generally cause nuisance."

"One elderly lady was hit on the side of the head with a football. Had she turned around her spectacles would have been broken."

"Many of these ladies are senior citizens and have become exceedingly frightened and disturbed."

"At our age it is a tragedy waiting to happen, someone could easily have a heart attack."

Another player, who did not wish to be named, said: "They pick the bowls up and run away with them or kick them on the Tarmac."

"We're not the type of people who can keep paying £70 or £80 for a new set of bowls either."

"We're all concerned about it and it's embarrassing when teams from other areas come to play."

"We have to walk around in pairs and keep shouting to each other to watch the children. People pay to use these pitches, it's not like they're some old football fields."

"The police have been up and so have the patrollers, but it just seems like the patrollers have no authority at all. All they can do is just stand by and tell the children not to do it."

"They're not allowed to touch them. I don't even think they're allowed to force them to leave the park."