TWO young boys were threatened with an Asbo for playing with a ball outside their house, their mother said today.

Five-year-old Patrick Cairney and his brother Lewis, 9, were playing a game of kerbie in their street when a neighbour called the police.

Officers came round to their house - and told the youngsters their games could lead to an anti-social behaviour order, according to their mother.

Lara Cairney, 35, today said: "This is just outrageous. My boys are scared to go outside and play now. They are just wee boys."

The youngsters play kerbie next to their home in South Dumbreck Road, Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. They live on a private estate where houses sell for up to £250,000. Mrs Cairney says they moved there in search of "family friendly" environment.

But last Friday, the interior designer was confronted by two policemen.

She said: "I had two police officers saying my two sons had been playing kerbie outside the front of the house.

"The bouncing of the ball and rolling of it into my front garden was annoying the neighbours."

Mrs Cairney went on: "One officer said he would be advising my next door neighbours to contact the anti-social behaviour unit, for a possible Asbo to be served."

And Mrs Cairney says since the police issued the warning, Patrick is too frightened to go out and play.

She said he "is having nightmares".

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: "Police attended a report of a dispute between neighbours .

"Advice was given to all parties and no further police action was taken."