Mums' Army: Stories of antisocial behaviour

When Michelle Weston heard shouting outside her home, she rushed to see what was going on. Opening her front door, she found her neighbour leaning against a fence clutching his stomach and moaning in pain.
Michelle, 31, of Thorntree, Middlesbrough, explains: 'He had two black eyes and his nose was bleeding. He told me he'd gone outside to confront a group of lads after one of them spat in his little girl's face.
'Instead of apologising, they hit him, shoving him to the ground and taking it in turns to punch and kick him before fleeing.
'His wife made five calls to 999 but it took seven hours before they sent someone round. At hospital an X-ray showed that his nose was broken.
'I'm disgusted that it took the police so long to arrive. The same boys who beat up my neighbour hang around outside our local shops in the evenings. None of them are over 16 but the shopkeepers and customers are all terrified of them.
'I'm joining Mums' Army because I've got four young kids and I'm determined to make this a better place for them to grow up.'
Michelle Weston,
Thorntree, Middlesbrough
Tel: 07891 775169