A questionnaire has been sent to Stratton homes in a bid to put an end to a gang's activities.

Residents like Valerie Hearn claim they are being kept prisoners in their own homes while youths run amok in the streets.

More than 100 questionnaires have been sent to residents living in what are deemed as the hotspot areas of Meadowcroft, Ermin Street and Rainer Close, asking for information regarding anti-social behaviour.

The details will be collated by Swindon Council's Crime and Disorder Team to make it easier to keep tabs on the youths.

Valerie, 68, and her partner Ray Millin, 72, of Derwent Drive, have installed CCTV at their home to capture criminal activities on film after suffering months of harassment. Just a few months ago the camera caught a 16-year-old boy throwing a paint can through her front door.

As reported in the Evening Advertiser, he was later convicted.

Now she has returned the completed questionnaire to the council.

She said: "The questionnaires are a good idea. We have had three anti-social incidents in six weeks and it's not just us. People in the area are getting hammered by vandals."

John Loud, 85, and his wife Lena, 80, of Derwent Drive, say the youths intimidate older people.

Lena said: "There are always young people coming and going in the street and it can be quite frightening. If I wake up in the night I'll always check outside the window to see if anything is going on. The questionnaires are a step forward."

Their neighbour Rose Davis, 54, of Witham Way, said the vandals regularly attack telephone boxes.

She said: "There's a gang of about 15 youths, and they can be quite terrifying. They wreck cars and sit smoking near residents' bins."

Cheri Wright, the Crime and Disorder Team's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said about five Stratton youths had signed Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, which last for six months.

She explained: "ABCs are the initial step in preventing anti-social behaviour.

"The next step would be to issue an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, but we aren't considering that at the moment.

"There are different levels of anti-social behaviour and sometimes all it takes is a letter to the parents.

"The questionnaires mean we can see exactly what the main problems are. It seems to be mainly low-level damage, such as littering, swearing and shouting."

The Evening Advertiser recently reported how a gang had been causing problems at Meadowcroft Express Shop. Shopkeeper, Suketu Patel, says the yobs are ruining his trade by driving customers away. When the problem was at its peak two months ago, he was forced to call the police every day.

Residents can call Stratton St Margaret parish council for a questionnaire on Swindon 823761.