Widow Beryl Blakeley has been at her wits' end over problems around her bungalow in Spen Valley Road.

Mrs Blakeley has had to endure:

• Banging on her door day and night;




• People using her front garden as a shortcut;




• Children leaning on her windowsill to watch her TV;




• Vandalism in her back garden.

But the last straw came a few days ago when more than £100 worth of her decorative pots and plants were smashed. Traffic was at a standstill as soil, broken pots and flowers were strewn around the road.

"I was devastated," said 79-year-old Mrs Blakeley, who has put in years of service to the community.

She wants to see more police on patrol, fencing around pensioners' homes and for the young people involved to be taught more respect.

Mrs Blakeley, who has suffered cancer and has diabetes, said: "The other week they banged on the back door so violently it needed new hinges and a new lock. This was in the early hours.

"I now sleep with cotton wool in my ears so I don't hear them. They think it's funny, but for an old lady like me it is not."

Mrs Blakeley has lived in Spen Valley Road for 54 years, moving to her council bungalow five years ago.

"It's open plan outside and that's no good for older people," she said. "It's a thoroughfare for everyone. No-one uses the path."

Other problems include children kicking footballs at windows, upturning litter bins and playing chicken with traffic.

Neighbour Eddie Barber said: "Kids sit on my back step and eat, drink and leave litter. Footballs are banging against the windows. These homes need fencing off."

Ward councillor Mumtaz Hussain (Lab) said: "Beryl has given years of service to the community and it is not fair when such a woman is treated like this.

"I have spoken to a number of parents and asked the mosques to make clear that elderly people must be treated with respect."

A Dewsbury police spokesman said officers will increase evening patrols, both on foot and on mountain bikes. "We will be looking to use the mobile CCTV van to clamp down on any anti-social behaviour," he said.

A Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing spokesman added: "Although these are meant to be open plan bungalows, we agree with her that fencing would help stop these problems.

"We've been able to find some funding for the new fences, which will be put up in phases. The work will start in the next couple of weeks."