A pensioner is calling for action to stop gangs causing trouble outside his home after he was attacked.

The 79-year-old, who does not want to be named, was assaulted outside his front garden after telling a youth to stop pulling his hedge to pieces.

He says he was struck in the eye with something flat and suffered severe bruising down the right side of his face.

Now the pensioner wants the bus stop outside his house in Downham Way, Downham, to be removed to stop groups of youths congregating there.

The former electrical and mechanical engineer feels the situation has got worse over the past two years.

He said: "The area is filthy. There are youths drinking, throwing cans and bottles, and urinating in my garden.

"The youths' behaviour is appalling and they have no manners.

"There are a lot of elderly folk who feel like prisoners in their own homes."

The man was having his dinner when he noticed a group of black youths tugging the hedge in his front garden at around 6.20pm on May 1.

After more than an hour, he went outside to ask them to stop pulling the hedge.

Girls in the group stopped immediately, but one youth aged about 16 did not.

The grandfather-of-one said: "The boy laughed and continued pulling the hedge to pieces.

"I said if that's the case, I'm going to contact the police'."

As the pensioner turned to go back to his garden gate, he was struck in the eye and face.

He called the police the following morning.

A London Buses spokesman said: "We currently have no plans to move the bus stop.

"An incident in the vicinity of a bus stop on May 1 was reported to police, but it is not considered by the police to be bus related."

Police are urging anyone with any information on the incident to call 0208 721 2482.