A FARNHAM pensioner has accused the police of doing nothing after a group of 13-year-old boys drove a stolen car through her garden fence and destroyed most of her garden.

Joyce Baker (72), who lives in Bridgefield, was out of the house at the time, but returned to see an abandoned white Ford Sierra sitting on her lawn, amongst ruined plants and shubbery.

The boys had been seen earlier in the day driving the stolen car at speeds of 70 mph round the quiet cul-de-sac.

Mrs Baker said: "A neighbour of mine saw the car racing around and the youngsters making a mess of a three-point turn. She rang the police but they didn't turn up to investigate. Then just hours later the car ended up through my fence. The boys obviously couldn't manage the bend and lost control of the wheel."

Afterwards, a neighbour reported the incident to the police after speaking to the boys, who he described as "quite shaken up".

They told him they were 13 and on an "inset day" before running off.

Mrs Baker believes the police response was "ineffective and disappointing".

"The police turned up to remove the car, but they were too late to see anything. Whenever I phone them I get nowhere and someone there even denied receiving any calls about the incident."

She has further criticised the police for not approaching local schools to find out which one had an inset day.

"I am amazed the police did not bother to go to local schools. I found out myself that pupils from Weydon School school had the day off, although I'm not assuming it was them. After speaking to someone there I haven't got anywhere."

Mrs Baker's garden has been her pride and joy for the 46 years she has lived at the house.

"I realise it isn't a serious crime, but I am devastated. You can't put a price on plants and my fence had to be replaced at a cost of £78."

"If this is the state of community policing, then I am very disappointed. I thought stolen cars was just the sort of thing the police were supposed to be clamping down on.

"The worst thing about it is that this will act as no deterrent to anyone else who is thinking of doing the same. In fact these boys are seen as heroes by their peers for doing this sort of thing."

Police spokesperson Nicola Burress confirmed that the police received a report of a road traffic collision, but the car, which had very minor damage, was not reported stolen by the owner.

She said that because descriptions were not given from the witness, it hindered police efforts in tracking down the boys involved.