'Uncool' Bach has youths fleeing

Published on Monday 8 March 2004 00:00

BEETHOVEN and Bach have come to the rescue of residents who felt besieged by large groups of youngsters congregating outside their high-rise flat.

The youths loitering around tower blocks in Cambuslang, near Glasgow, fled after classical music was piped round-the-clock into the entrance lobbies.

They found it so "un-cool" they decided to beat a hasty retreat, leaving the residents in peace.

Paul Farrell, a director of West Whitelawburn Housing Co-operative which runs the six blocks of flats, said: "It seems they would rather listen to Eminem than Classic FM and no longer congregate in the foyers.

"Loitering was becoming a problem with gangs of youths hanging about, especially during cold weather."

Housing officials came up with the scheme after hearing that local supermarket manageress Patricia Ryan moved loitering youths on by piping out orchestral music.