I AM writing to share my shock and disgust at what I witnessed one night earlier this month.

I noticed a police helicopter circling around the Albany Park area, in Sidcup, for at least 15 to 20 minutes. I decided to look out of my window to see what was happening. I saw a group of youths about six of them, all teenagers about 15 to 17 years old.

They were just walking along on the pavement when, to my horror and surprise, one youth stopped and for no reason other than utter vandalism, he decided to try to kick a wall down. He would not give up until he had destroyed the wall.

He kicked violently until the wall went crashing into the front garden of an unknown resident.

What is the world coming to? What is driving our youngsters to such acts of violence and vandalism? I saw two youths violently swinging on a bus stop the other day, just pure destructive behaviour.

As for all those dumped cars which just sit there waiting to be destroyed by those youths, I am in utter despair and bewilderment.

Discipline and punishment are surely the two things which are missing. No deterrent, no fear, no control.

I feel so angry yet so sad thinking about these youths. I would have loved to have seen them caught and made to rebuild that wall, after a training programme on building and discipline and respect to other peoples property.

Name and address supplied