TERRIFIED pensioners are living a 'life of purgatory' in Hartford with cars and gardens attacked by gangs of teenage yobs.

The pensioners, who live in bungalows on Riddings Lane, are angry at being targeted and say something should be done.

Scott and Elsie Turner moved to Hartford from Rudheath about four years ago and say the situation is getting worse after vandals destroyed fence panels in their garden and stole plants and garden ornaments.

Elsie, 65, said: "I'm not normally a nervous person but I'm a complete and utter wreck.

"I'm worried about my husband who's prone to heart attacks and I'm getting myself all worked up - we haven't slept for a couple of weeks and can't take much more.

"It's a life of purgatory."

When the couple moved into their Hartford home they had high hopes for their future and Scott, 68, was able to devote time to their new garden.

Elsie said: "We fell in love with the place - it's in the countryside and so tranquil - but I've never lived in such a horrible place.

"It's horrible, it's scary and I'm frightened.

"We've just got everything as we want it and Scott's garden is his hobby but is it worth it?"

A 72-year-old woman, who also lives on Riddings Lane, said she heard the Turners' fence being vandalised earlier this month.

She said: "A couple of days later I saw them outside, laughing and pointing at where they had kicked the panel in."

Another Riddings Lane resident, who does not wish to be named, said: "I'm fed up of all these youths thinking they can control you."

Richard Haffenden, chairman of Hartford Parish Council, said: "I'm disturbed that we have this problem, which seems to come and go from time to time.

"It's exactly the sort of thing we'll be looking at when the Community Support Officer becomes active - hopefully in May."