CYCLISTS on their way home from work are running a gauntlet of terror as they come under attack from gangs of boys hurling bricks and bottles.

A number of the riders have already had to switch routes home to avoid running into the children, some as young as ten.

Now there are increasing calls by cyclists for police to guarantee them a safe passage through the troubled housing estate in Southampton.

Cyclists going through Millbrook on their way from the city centre to

l Continued on page two Redbridge, Totton and other areas say they are being turned into "quivering wrecks" by the 10-strong gangs.

They claim the police have failed to respond to their concerns due to a lack of beat officers in the Millbrook area, although police have now pledged to look into the matter.

One cyclist, a teacher who was "too frightened" to give his name, said: "It's getting to the stage where you are thinking seriously about not using your bicycle at night. I pass other cyclists on my way home who think I'm mad going through Millbrook. One night last week I was travelling past Vans R Us in Redbridge Road when I had to weave out of the way out of a huge barrage of missiles.

"The youngsters were shouting all sorts of obscenities and had no respect for another human being.

"Most of the incidents take place between 5 and 9pm after the youngsters have had their tea and are wandering the streets looking for something to do.

"I understand the police do what they can given the numbers they have, but I will have to get seriously injured before they treat my and other cyclists concerns as a priority."

Sgt Phil Kerr, based at Shirley police station, said they had been keeping a "close eye" on a number of youngsters in Millbrook.

He said: "I wasn't aware of so many cyclists being attacked and verbally abused. It is something we will look into immediately. We always take physical attacks and intimidation very seriously."

Another cyclist, who declined to be named, said on-going repairs of the cycle path running through Millbrook to Totton had given youngsters "extra ammunition" with which to attack.

Executive member for environment and transport, Councillor Richard Williams said: "I am appalled by what is happening to cyclists travelling through Millbrook. The cycle lane is a popular commuter route and should remain so."

The prison is just one of three in Britain to be chosen to the test the scheme, which is set to kick off in the New Year.

Other countries, such as Canada, have already been using Restorative Justice extensively in a bid to cut crime rates.

By talking to their perpetrators the victims get the chance to find out why they did what they did, which has been found to help victims move on with their lives.

Groups such as the Probation Service have visited Winchester jail to discuss the new initiative in detail.

Prison chiefs explained that the scheme could involve victims meeting criminals behind the walls of the Romsey Road jail, or by using video conferencing facilities.

Operations, security, and community links governor at the jail, Bob Gladstone, said: "The scheme is about trying to get perpetrators of crime to meet their victims face to face.

"This gives the victims the chance to say to ask these people why did they do it.

"When people go to court everything there is about the offence and proving that it was committed, there is nothing about the victim.

"There are a lot of questions that a victim will never have answered in court. This will help them deal with the trauma more easily," he added.