In fact it has had a bad effect on my health and I will not walk down the street in my own neighbourhood at night, as I do not feel safe.

The high number of drug-users who frequent the area in both Fairbairn Street and adjoining Dundonald Street, mere yards from Dens Road Primary School, is abhorrent.

I have heard people talking about buying drugs on the street, outside corner shops, in tenement entrances etc. My neighbours told me they have also found dirty, used needles in their back gardens where their kids play.

Once I arrived home from work to find a young couple in the entrance to my tenement. The young girl was lying on the steps covered with vomit — apparently the result of an overdose.

They apparently had decided to ‘shoot-up’ in my tenement entrance, and when she became ill, the young man ran off and left me to phone an ambulance and ensure the girl was still breathing.

It isn’t only the high prevalence of drugs in the area that makes Coldside a scary place to live. It is common to find kids, engaging in anti-social behaviour.

I have had stones and bricks thrown at me, cars damaged, windows smashed and even bonfires started in my back garden. No one was made accountable for the damage caused.

The advice from the Anti-Social Behaviour Teams and the police is to try not to antagonise them, walk away from their verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse and call the police.

I refuse to walk down my own street after dark, for fear of verbal abuse or physical assault. It is ridiculous. I am a grown man and I feel unsafe in my own neighbourhood.

At the moment, no-one seems to be punished for this ongoing problem. I would love to feel safe in what used to be a respectable part of the city, but I don’t and will not while these people are able to roam freely.

The CCTV cameras that were installed in Fairbairn Street, although looking impressive, seem to have little effect.

Someone in authority must invest time and money to improve the area, and change it from an increasingly unpleasant place to live into a respectable, inviting neighbourhood. — Resident.

From the very beginning, I have read the appeals and like many other Dundonians I have hoped Mary would be found safe and well and would go home to her family.

Now it’s a time of great sadness.

It has left many people touched, even people like myself who never knew Mary.

My thoughts are with the McLarens at this time.

May Mary Rest In Peace. — Daryl Beech.

There is a children’s play area right next to Dalkeith Road and the area itself is often frequented by dog walkers and young children.

Why has nobody made any effort to reduce the speed of traffic in this area before we are faced with another untimely fatality? — Reduce Speed Now.

I live in Windsor Street in the West End and feel that some sort of police speed trap should be set up to catch people driving at ludicrous speeds both ways on the street.

This is a built up area and should have a 20 mph limit at the very most.

I constantly see and hear people speeding their cars from top to bottom and vice-versa all day every day.

Something must be done before a serious accident occurs. — Drive With Care.

Not only did he stop and help to move our car off the very busy road, once he had made sure my son and I were safe from danger, he also took time to collect my husband and eldest son up from Tannadice after the Dundee United football match and brought my husband to us to assist.

My husband offered the gentleman a token of appreciation for his time and effort, but he flatly refused to accept, saying that he felt it offensive to accept money for helping a lady and her small child.

This gentleman’s actions and attitude are an example to us all. In these days when good manners and helping others seem to be lower down on people’s priorities, it is humbling to see that some still hold these values highly.

You should be very proud. We will not forget how you helped on this day. — Alison, Scott, Oliver and Lewis Brander, Wyvis Road, Dundee.

However, I argue politicians from all political parties need to recognise the challenging economic times facing the country.

The main question is why the SNP — in power in Holyrood long before the current recession took place — has failed to live up to promises to Dundee on more civil service jobs for the city? — Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Dundee City Council.