YOBS are making life a misery for staff and patients at a rehabilitation unit in Chingford.

According to the husband of a recent resident at the Ainslee rehabilitation unit in Friars Close, youngsters are terrorising people recovering from serious illnesses.

He said windows are being smashed by children as young as nine, rubbish bins are being set alight and youngsters were seen climbing on the roof of the unit, shouting abuse at patients and staff.

His seriously ill wife was transferred to the unit following a stay at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

In a letter to the Waltham Forest Guardian he said: "The police are called time and again but the situation does not change.

"I thought my wife would be safe there but it seems the staff and residents are being terrorised by local children."

He is calling for the residents of Friars Close to get together and "control their children before somebody gets hurt".

He added: "At the very least, efforts should be made to teach them that the very sick people in the Ainslee unit need support and protection, not abuse."

Sally Gorham, chief executive of the Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust which runs the unit, confirmed there had been attacks on the property and incidents of verbal abuse.

She added: "We are working closely with police and they are currently providing additional surveillance to the area.

"Our staff dedicate their lives to caring for the sick and do not deserve to have this sort of thing happen to them and the patients they care for."