THERE have been problems in the Belmont area of Brighton ever since it was built.

But they have not achieved the same prominence as those on bigger estates such as Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb.

That's because there are only 40 houses at Belmont and there has been no obvious community leader until now.

One has emerged in the unlikely form of a 12-year-old girl called Katrina Back, who has been trebly brave.

First, she survived the ordeal of a prowler who tried to abduct her and she saw him put away for the offence.

Then she had to persuade Judge Richard Brown to rescind the order preventing her identity from being known so that she could tell her story.

Now she's campaigning for Belmont to be made a safer estate so it's a pleasure rather than a pain for people to live there.

Katrina is already achieving results, with the council, police and housing association all taking an interest.

With their help it may be possible to get rid of the vagrants and drug dealers from this estate and transform a derelict car park into a pleasant play area.

Katrina is a real fighter. She has already won two of her battles. There's no reason at all why she should not win the third, which would benefit scores of people in her neighbourhood.