THE PARENTS of a teenager beaten up in Cinderford last week want the council to introduce bylaws banning boozing in public.

Russell and Isobel Higgins, of Oakway, Littledean, are urging anyone who feels the same as them to get in touch.

"Please write and let's try and get something done about it - put pressure on the council to clean up our town. After all, isn't that what all this regeneration is all about, making Cinderford a better place to live?," said Mrs Higgins.

Mr and Mrs Higgins have kicked off their campaign following an incident in which their 15 year-old daughter was beaten up.

They claim she was on the receiving end of a hiding from three girls "fuelled on drink." They say she was beaten up by the girls who punched, kicked and even tried to strangle her.

"Her face was black and swollen and she had mild head injuries. Of course, it could have been worse, they could have done lasting damage, they could have even killed her. But where do they stop? Perhaps next time it may not be a healthy 15 year-old, perhaps next time it will be an elderly person who could do nothing to defend themselves."

Mrs Higgins says she has felt intimidated visiting Cinderford at night.

"Why should I have to feel like this? What Cinderford and many other towns up and down the country need, is a total ban on alcohol in the streets.

"I know there are quite a few places that already have this regime in place and it seems to be effective. I know from talking to the police that it is something they would like to see happen. Maybe, if enough people rally together, we could do something about it, make our community a safer, pleasanter place to live in, keep our children safe," said Mrs Higgins.

Mrs Higgins says some shop owners could be more cautious about selling drink, much of which was being openly consumed by children as young as 14 or 15.

In LYDNEY a Review reader claims the town is "totally out of control."

"What we need is a full time police station," writes H. Simpson.

"The hooligans have a free rein to do what they want to do ... what we need is more police patrolling the streets." (See letters).