GANGS of rowdy youth have been damaging wildlife and frightening residents in the Forest Road area of Whitehill this week.
Youngsters gathering up on the Walldown scheduled ancient monument in Whitehill have been drinking, shouting, smashing bottles and setting light to tree stumps, benches and aerosol bottles and leaving all their mess behind.
The damage to the area was underlined by the felling of a tree last week. The tree had to be cut down after it had been damaged so much it was unsafe.
Locals, councillors and environmentalists have described the destruction of trees and woodland in the area the youngsters call "on top of the world".
Twenty-one unbroken bottles and 33 cans were removed from the site by Deadwater Valley Trust ranger Mike Wearing on Tuesday.
He said: "The youngsters had been standing a candle in the fork of the damaged tree. From candles it then went to lighting fires.
"There's evidence that they have tried to set light to a seat up there, and they have been using one tree stump to smash bottles on. The worst problem is their selfishness.
"I would come up here and enjoy myself if I was a youngster, but not leave all this. I'm sure there's drug taking, too, as I've found a 'bong' made out of a lemonade bottle.
"A fox or badger or other animal could tread on glass, or children playing could cut themselves. I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.
"This is the worst I've seen it, and why should older people feel intimidated?"
A 76-year-old resident in the area who is too frightened to be named said: "I'm afraid of repercussions.
"Some of the green garden waste has been tipped out all over Wellington Avenue, and I found a vodka bottle in the garden.
"I thought it would get better after the summer, but it hasn't. The people in Forest Road are fed up with the noise."
She also spoke about the destruction of the "top of the world'"
She said: "You can't enjoy the view up there now as it's such a mess.
"Last Friday, there were two people in sleeping bags up there.
"I don't like the thought of it. It's horrible. I've been on to the police who said they will keep an eye on the area."
Local councillor Adam Carew said: "A number of residents have complained to me that shouting, screaming and laughter carries on sometimes until 4-30 am on weekdays, as well as weekends.
"This is not acceptable when local residents have to work the following day.
"No one minds occasional high spirits or young people meeting with their friends but it is reasonable to ask those teenagers involved to have a little thought for their neighbours and to cut the noise down, particularly at night.
"Elderly people, in particular, tell me that they have felt intimidated by this. "A number of people have told me privately that they have had to contact the police in desperation.
"I am also aware that small fires have been lit, trees vandalised and rubbish left on the Walldown scheduled ancient monument."
Despite the earthwork at the site being legally protected under the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, and it being part of the Deadwater Valley Local Nature Reserve, the situation does not seem to be improving.
Mr Carew said: "We all know that there is very little for teenagers to do at night in Whitehill and Bordon and that transport links to and from other areas such as Guildford and Portsmouth are not good, particularly late in the evening."
If residents are concerned that this noise is getting out of hand or have evidence of antisocial behaviour, contact Whitehill Police on: 0845 045 45 45.