RESIDENTS on a Darlington estate say they are being plagued by youths playing ball games outside their homes.

People in Pilmoor Green, Firthmoor, say they feel intimidated by teenagers congregating on the green in front of their houses and kicking balls on to their properties.

A community safety meeting on the estate heard that some residents had been hit by flying balls and others had had windows broken and fences damaged.

Uniformed warden Becky Heseltine, from Darlington Borough Council, carried out a survey of residents and found that about 70 per cent were unhappy.

She said: "Car lights have been smashed. One lady was hit by a football and she showed me the bruise.

"One man sat outside his house and nearly got a cricket ball in his head."

She said: "There is a bunch of older teenagers hanging around. It is that group of youths who are causing major problems and damaging people's property."

Councillor Lee Vasey said one woman told her that youths had threatened to kick her fence down.

"The general consensus of the area is that the youths playing there are definitely causing problems," said Coun Vasey.

"If they are damaging people's property they shouldn't be playing football. It is the same bunch of lads causing the problems for the rest of the residents."

PC Andy Gore, from Darlington police, said: "I think if that many people are complaining then the kids have got out of hand."

He said police and wardens would increase patrols in the area.

Coun Vasey suggested that an area in the centre of the green be turned into a rose garden to stop ball games.

It was agreed to ask local youngsters to design a garden and ask residents to help look after it.

"I would rather people took responsibility," she said.