Students’ animal antics alarm cathays residents

A GROUP of 30 students dressed as farm animals allegedly urinated against homes, kicked cars and knocked over bins during a four-hour disturbance on a Cardiff street.

Local residents have now complained to Cardiff Metropolitan University about the behaviour of the students on Wednesday night, and an investigation has been launched.

They say the students congregated outside a house on Woodville Road, Cathays, from 6pm until they were finally moved on at about 10pm on Wednesday.

The residents allege the male and female students were urinating and being sick in the street and up against fences.

Resident Chris Birch said: “We live in a student area so expect a certain amount of noise, but it has never been as bad as this.

“They were dressed as farm animals and said it was some sort of initiation. They weren’t allowed to use the toilet in the house, so they peed against fences and in the street. The next morning there was a real stink, pools of vomit and toilet paper stuck to walls.

“My mother-in-law lives opposite and she had her 15-month-old grandson over for a sleepover. He couldn’t get to sleep and the noise in his room with the window closed was so loud. He was getting more and more distressed by the noise.

“I was in the kitchen right at the back of our house and could hear them loud and clear.

“When my mother-in-law confronted them, one student said, ‘It’s your own fault for living in a student area.’

“She has lived there for 28 years, long before it was a student area. It is actually quite a residential part of the road and there are not that many students living here.

“When the police turned up, one of them said to them that it didn’t really matter too much because it was ‘only Cathays.’”

A spokesman for South Wales Police: “At 8.40pm reports were received concerning an incident on Woodville Road in the Cathays area of Cardiff.

“A householder reported concerns about the behaviour of a number of people who were attending a house party at a neighbouring property.

“Officers attended shortly after 9pm and spoke to the individuals concerned about their behaviour and dispersed the group.”

The students told residents they were from Cardiff Metropolitan University, which is now investigating the disturbance.

A spokeswoman said: “The university has been made aware of an incident at Woodville Road on Wednesday evening and is investigating the matter to establish the exact circumstances, as well as the identity of these students to determine if they are from Cardiff Metropolitan.

“Obviously, the university does not condone such behaviour. We are committed to working in partnership with South Wales Police to stamp out antisocial behaviour and our students are frequently reminded of their civil responsibilities within the local community.”