VANDALS are making the lives of families living around the eyesore Brentwood Mill a misery.

Not only that, they are dicing with death to do it.

One resident tells me that apart from having to put up with the blot on the landscape, druggies, drop-outs and yobs are now adding a further source of irritation and upset.

Three times during the week they have broken into the electric sub-station at the Leigh Road, Leigh, site causing power cuts on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

A spokesman for United Utilities confirmed that each time they had sent out a team to repair the sub station and reinforce the doors, but the persistent yobs had managed to smash them in and pull out fuses causing the cuts.

The station, on the abandoned site, which has been left to fall into disrepair, was said to have now been made safe.

One hundred and thirty homes have been inconvenienced and left without power because of the thoughtless, and no less than suicidal action, of these obvious no brains.

Don't they realise that 11,000 volts pass through the sub station, which is locked and has warning signs for a reason?

One wrong move and they go up in a blue flash. Obviously that would be a solution to the problem, but let's not be so unkind and warn the louts of the dangers they face, trust they will see sense and stay away.

And let's also hope that the owners of the appalling site do something to clear it up - and soon.

Meanwhile further down the road all the fun of the fair is not what it used to be.

While many youngsters have been enjoying the swings and roundabouts at Silcock's site others have been getting their kicks causing trouble for nearby families.

One disgruntled resident in nearby terraced houses tells me families have had to put up with marauding youngsters running down the streets vandalising property and vehicles.

A neighbour's car had the mirrors torn off, others had their down spouts ripped off and her cast iron drain pipe was kicked so violently that it crashed to the ground narrowly missing her car. On hearing the din she ran out to see youths running up the street laughing.

It's not on is it, especially when elderly residents are too frightened to go out at night?

But the fair can't be blamed. It is an attraction which many youngsters look forward to, but like any other these days, attracts an unruly element.

We shouldn't have to keep paying the price for the atrocious behaviour of other people's children, but sadly until discipline is brought back in to their lives it looks like we'll have to.