Many who read today's story of the families forced out of their homes by council eviction orders as punishment for their unruly children will be shocked at the measures taken, while others, who have perhaps suffered at the hands of young tearaways themselves, might be tempted to agree with the move.

It can be difficult to raise children in this day and age and imbue them with a sense of social responsibility, although the great majority of parents do manage it by passing on their own standards and values.

Having said that, there are many social stresses and strains on family life that come with living in run-down areas, having to struggle to find work, and being faced with relationship difficulties, all of which make the job of raising children as we would hope a difficult target.

But there obviously needs to be some kind of remedy if the situation of tearaway children gets out of control, and the enforced eviction orders imposed by Bradford Council on the four Holme Wood families would seem like the last resort.

Residents deserve some kind of protection and should not have to put up with the sort of behaviour that makes their lives hell.

There must be a major attitude change in our society to deal with this issue, and in the interim perhaps more help needs to be made available to parents who seem unable to keep their children under control and behaving in the way that a responsible society demands.