PERHAPS I am turning into a crusty old lady – two Sundays ago, on a beautiful English summer’s evening, I revisited the beautiful Green at Wooburn for the first time in more than 20 years.

There were no longer small piles of dog poop to negotiate underfoot – an improvement – however while I was outside the convenience store a scuffle started there between a group of teens and an older man.

This ended when a second group of people, some white and some black, sitting on the Green, got up, sprinted over, and rescued the older man.

While I watched one of the more vocal youths started to argue and was quite literally punched hard in the face, before being told to ‘**** off and grow up’. Scenes like this would be unimaginable in most likely any city in this country.

Afterwards, I was told by the second group of people – adults in their 20s and 30s – that this had become a regular occurrence at Wooburn Green – immature youths – white and usually male – congregated there and outside the convenience store, and made themselves a small menace and nuisance – doing ‘wheelies’ outside the store, close to shoppers, and calling people names, drinking, swearing, smoking, and throwing things – at themselves and sometimes at other people on the Green – before going home, leaving trash behind.

As the mother of former teens I realise young people need a space to be themselves in, however they should also respect the space of others. I wonder if local parents are aware of this problem and keep an eye on their children’s behaviour.

Mark Twain said good manners consisted of ‘being yourself without being obnoxious to others’ – these kids apparently think that being obnoxious to others is the same as being yourself.

Name and address supplied, Wisconsin, USA (Formerly of Wooburn)