Troublesome teenagers seeing the error of their ways and turning out good in the end is one of those things that youth workers and others concerned with the problems posed by the young have dreamed of for the last half century - ever since teenagers were invented as a separate social group, in fact. The fantasy has not always been matched by the reality, unfortunately.

However, at Bolton Woods the optimists have been vindicated thanks to the efforts of youth workers at special sessions being held at the local community centre to point out to members of a disruptive gang the effect their anti-social behaviour has been having on the people living around them.

Their reign of terror has included vandalism, pelting homes with eggs, racist attacks, verbal and physical assaults and burning cars. Pensioners, children and asylum seekers have been terrified as the gang, aged from 11 upwards, repeatedly went on the rampage.

It is an encouraging indication of the success of this project in getting the youngsters to realise just what harm they have been doing, and to awaken their consciences, that two of them have today apologised publicly to the victims of their violence. Dean Surtees and Daniel Dalby are to be commended for coming forward and expressing their regrets. Let's hope it represents a new start for them, and that they can now go on to make a positive contribution to society.

If this is the sort of impact a scheme of this type can have in a relatively short time, it suggests a need for more of them in other troubled villages and suburbs to curb the considerable problems caused by teenage gangs.