Residents of a crime-ridden rural village have threatened to carry out punishment beatings on teenage troublemakers amid claims the police are ignoring their plight.
A group has delivered an anonymous letter to police, warning they are going to take the law into their own hands.
The vigilantes are threatening to patrol the streets in a van and carry out attacks on youths they blame for a spate of vandalism and petty crime in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire.
They say teenagers fuelled by drink and drugs are the village's "untouchable generation" and accuse police of being unwilling to tackle the problem.
Menstrie, with a population of just 2000, enjoys an idyllic location at the foot of the Ochil Hills. It boasts a historic castle and is overlooked by the spectacular Broomhall baronial mansion.
However, locals say their lives have been blighted by gang violence and vandalism.
The letter warns: "For some time now we have watched the younger generation of Menstrie wreak havoc.
"From the breaking of church walls, breaking into local shops, destruction of council property, the constant littering of plastic bags and smashed glass bottles, harassment of local residents, arson attacks and the beating of bus drivers.
"In the year 2007 this is going to stop. We are taking our own action. We know who they are, where they live and who their parents are."
The letter points to the success two years ago of a group of vigilantes in nearby Alva. It states: "A group of villagers travelled around Alva carrying out punishment beatings. We seem to recall this was very successful.
"We want to see more police patrols in Menstrie, the splitting-up of large congregated gangs and tougher sentences passed down. We are not asking the police, we are telling them to put a stop to the uncontrollable youths in Menstrie. Otherwise we will act on your behalf."
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