ONCE again the residents of a troubled York estate have had to endure riotous and potentially dangerous behaviour from teenagers.

And once again youngsters blame the lack of anything else to do.

Bored youths have been with us since teenagers were invented. Yet boredom is no excuse at all for what occurred at the Chapelfields estate.

Some 80 youths were said to have been involved in a mass outbreak of vandalism and antisocial behaviour. This culminated in a burning wheelie bin being pushed into a car, which then burned out.

This is more than vandalism. Just imagine what could have happened if somebody had been in the car, or if the car had set fire to a house.

Those youths who spoke to the Evening Press, who were not among the rioters, say problems have increased since the youth club was burned down. They may have a point and efforts should be made to replace the club.

But until some teenagers stop engaging in mass stupidity and take responsibility for their own actions, this problem will not go away.

Updated: 10:00 Monday, October 18, 2004