Pensioners are celebrating victory after winning a ten-year campaign to get a security fence round their sheltered housing complex.

Residents say they have complained for years about youths throwing missiles at their windows and vandalising the complex which has 28 flats.

Work has just finished to put up the one-metre-high metal fence, much to residents' relief according to long-time campaigner Marjorie Marks.

Mrs Marks, 82, who has lived in the flats at Northcliffe View, Crag Road, Windhill, for 17 years, said: "We've been wanting this fence for ten years. I'm more than happy we've got it at last, we've been fighting for it long enough."

Over the years Mrs Marks said elderly residents at the complex had been subjected to intimidation by local youths, saying some of the thugs are as young as ten.

She said: "I've had tomatoes, eggs and stones chucked at my windows and I'm not the only one. They come and rap at our windows at night. It's not on, hopefully the fence will keep them out. They seem to be respecting it so far."

Windhill ward councillor Phil Thornton said he shared residents' relief: "It's been very distressing for some of the residents. No one should have to put up with vandals causing them a nuisance. Hopefully this new fence will means residents can enjoy a more peaceful and trouble-free life at last."

Another resident, Joan Peacock, said: "It's about time. Older people shouldn't have to put up with the nuisance that these young people cause. Hopefully, the fencing will keep them away."

Dewi Williams, supported care manager at Shipley Community Housing Trust, said: "As a caring and responsible landlord, we have listened to residents' concerns and with their agreement we have acted by fitting the fencing. It aims to create a clear boundary around their homes, deter any nuisance activity and make sure residents feel safer.

"Shipley Community Housing Trust is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and working to safeguard the right of our tenants to enjoy the peace of their home."

The trust's environmental action team will also be cutting back shrubs at the back of the flats to add to the security measures.

l Elderly residents living in a Bradford CHT sheltered housing complex in Idle village are also to get fencing put up, said ward councillor and chairman of the Village Partnership Jeanette Sunderland. The cash will come from leftover funds from a joint project between the CHT and the Idle Village Partnership.

She said: "I discovered that Bradford Community Housing Trust had accidentally underspent on a joint project with the Idle Village Partnership so we agreed that the money could be used to solve this problem. I am sure that the residents concerned will be absolutely delighted with the news."

Coun Sunderland is also asking the trust to consider a lighting scheme to make sure that each of their tenants in Idle has a security light above their door.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk