SIR — I write to express my views with reference to Blenheim Gardens and as you can no doubt tell from my address, I can look into the gardens from my flat at the North Road entrance.

I, like many other local residents, am delighted with the services of the security guards. I was pleased to note from the gardeners that since the guards have been in post the degree of vandalism has significantly decreased.

This is obviously a satisfactory improvement and a great boost to all of us who try to use the gardens for peace and quiet and a place where elderly people should be able to enjoy the environment within the legal restrictions of no cycling, no ball games and no dogs.

These laws are practically impossible to implement, due to the lack of any security guards or police officers during the daytime, when a lot of damage is done.

The arrival of the security guards at 5pm does of course help the situation, although I do realise that they have no powers, except gentle persuasion, in response to the verbal abuse they so regularly suffer.

The presence, mainly in the morning, of people suffering from the effects of an over-indulgence of alcohol in the shelter is a very unpleasant sight, not to mention the foul language for all to hear and the stench of alcohol, urine and empty tins and bottles.

Before the appointment of the guards, I witnessed, from the window of my flat, the partial destruction and consequent severe damage to the shelter. I decided to telephone the police, and after a long telephone discussion, and subsequently two hours later, a constable strolled down through the gardens.

As I explained to him by this time the vandals had gone, leaving behind them a trail of destruction, which included some tiles from the roof of the shelter being ripped off and thrown into the garden. They also seemed to take great pleasure from riding their bicycles directly into the lavender patch.

Whilst sitting on the roof of the shelter the language, which could be clearly heard by all who were nearby, was disgusting and very upsetting to everyone. This event occurred before 5pm.

I trust, along with many others, that the council will be able to continue with the presence of the security guards, and seriously consider extending their hours to cover the daytime when most of the damage occurs.

I feel that it must be most depressing for the garden staff to report for duty only to find these vandals, who must be caught, named, shamed and punished, have destroyed all their hard labours.

They are flagrantly breaking the laws and maybe should not only be fined but also banned from entering the gardens.

A tall order perhaps, but one which would help to preserve the gardens for all to enjoy, as they should be.

Richard J Burch,

Hanover Court,

North Road,