A GROUP of Southampton tenants are so sick and tired of out-of-control youngsters plaguing their estate they have decided to go into schools to tell them so.

Members of Holly Oak Court Tenants' Association in Coxford have already visited Sinclair Junior School and Oaklands Community School in Lordshill to hammer home their defiant message.

They also plan to visit Redbridge Community School, Millbrook Community School and others in the west of Southamp-ton over the coming months.

The determined tenants hope their pro-active methods of tackling nuisance behaviour will be copied by other tenants organisations in other parts of the city.

Mike Sharples, chairman of Holly Oak Court Tenants' Association, said: "We basically ask the children if they think it's fun to pick on some of the most vulnerable members of their community, like pensioners. We ask them how they would feel if their nan and grandad was being abused.

"We have a forthright question and answer session and we've been encouraged that some of the young people who have been causing trouble have actually said sorry for what they've done. They genuinely listen when you tell them how things have been. The teachers at the schools are 100 per cent behind what we are doing.

"There's a lot of good youngsters in our community and it's a shame when a few spoil things. Since we started this initiative things in our area have improved a lot. Audrey Baker, our group secretary, deserves a special mention for the outstanding work she has done.

"We believe we are the first tenants group to have actually gone into schools to talk to youngsters and we hope others follow."

Holly Oak Tenants' Association has also been working closely with the police, council bosses, and local children's groups in an attempt to build bridges with youngsters.

Some of the problems that triggered the school visits included vandalism, arson attacks, thefts from local shops and children using makeshift weapons like hammers to threaten local residents with violence.