AT just before midnight on Saturday , loud noise could be heard in Castleditch Lane, Oakenshaw.

Happy revellers I thought, until I heard, "They've got f...ing knives, dad!"

Rightly or wrongly, depending on how much you care for your fellow man, I went out hoping I would not find any victims.

A group of young people were plainly "merry and upset''.

Suddenly, another band of "merry men and women" appeared from the direction of Paddock Lane, adults this time.

I was mistaken by thinking they would calm the situation, instead they inflamed it.

We had fathers shouting, "I'm your f...ing father, get out of my face!"

We had mothers shouting, "Leave my f...ing husband alone" and we still had merry and upset youngsters.

I knew other residents had woken up and were trying to get the noise to stop. But no.

A young girl came past me, crying profusely. I asked if she was OK but no answer, so I just watched her walk away.

I heard a woman asking, "Where's my f...ing daughter? I'll kill someone if I don't f...ing find her."

Would I be wrong in asking for these three wishes?

These folk run out of money to buy more alcohol.

These folk buy a dictionary and learn other descriptive words.

These folk offer an apology to the residents of Painswick Close and Rosehall Close for the disturbance?.

Or shall I just hope the lady who verbally threatened me makes sure there is always someone who can tell her where her daughter is. Which is all I was trying to do.

Councillor PATTIE HILL

Oakenshaw