OUR front page story this week of the reckless damage caused in Moor Lane, Fairford, should shock local parents and rightly so.

Vulnerable residents were cut off for two weeks when vandals destroyed the cables of a phone cabinet which connected the houses to the Fosseway Housing Association emergency care line.

These lines are in place so that should a resident have an accident they can call for help.

Most parents would be horrified to learn of their children's involvement, whether directly or indirectly, with a wrecking spree such as this.

The intent was probably not to leave Moor Lane cut off but such disregard for the consequences of their actions means the blame lands squarely on the shoulders of the vandals - and their parents.

Parents have a responsibility to know what their children are up to and where they are.

How would they feel if it was their parents or grandparents affected?

As always though we do have positive stories of young people contributing to their community.

Nicky Archer,18, a student at Deer Park School has designed a garden for disabled people in Cirencester while Cotswolds Youth MP Henry Rackley, 15, has spoken out against youth discrimination after discovering Tesco was only letting four schoolchildren in at a time due to fears of shoplifting.

The future of the Cotswolds is in the hands of the youth and if they are not brought up to be responsible and act properly like Nicky and Henry then it will not be much of a future.