BRAVE resident Ruth Wilks today praised the "power of the Press" for helping to end her five years of hell at the hands of drunken yobs.

Ruth, 52, of Monkton Road, York, courageously spoke out last month about the 50-strong gang of teenagers making her life a misery.

She even installed her own CCTV cameras, which caught one of the yobs urinating against her car, before breaking into her porch and making off with garden furniture.

Ruth, a personnel manager, said her house was a magnet for trouble because it backed on to a popular teenage hangout, The 68 Centre.

But she said the trouble had now finally stopped because of the Evening Press coverage given to her plight - and revealed since we printed the article she had not suffered a single incident.

Ruth was given a further boost by news that security fencing is to be put up by the council-run 68 Centre to further protect her home from vandals.

"Since I came forward to do the article, I've had no more incidents at all outside my house, and there used to be something happening every night," she said.

"I don't know where they (the gang) have gone but they're not around here any more.

"I'm so pleased I came forward and would encourage other victims of crime to do the same. I don't worry about what's going to happen every time I get home. It just shows the power of the Press."

Heworth councillor Paul Blanchard said: "It's great to hear that things have calmed down in the area. If anyone has any further concerns about antisocial behaviour, all they have to do is give one of us a call and we'll be happy to discuss it with the police and monitor the situation"

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We are pleased to be working in partnership with residents of all ages and we have been encouraged by the results so far in that young people are taking part in youth work activities with positive results."

Chief inspector Andy Bell, of York police, said they had increased the police presence in the Monkton Road area.

Updated: 10:15 Thursday, March 03, 2005