THEY dress in black, they listen to dark rock music and they don't look like ordinary teenagers.

They call themselves goths and - just like the mods, rockers, punks and skinheads before them - they are proud to stand out from the mainstream with their own dress codes, attitudes and musical preferences.

But some of the goths are getting the distinct impression they are not welcome on the streets of Southampton.

Verbal and physical abuse has become a common experience for the teenagers, who feel they are being victimised just because of the way they look.

And now one Southampton mum has spoken out to defend her goth sons and their right to live and dress however they want.

Beverley Peek, 39, said she was very proud of Richard, 16, and David 13.

She added: "People say they look a bit satanic, but they're lovely boys.

"They are not normal teenagers - they're much more pleasant than that.

"They hold doors open for people, they carry my shopping, do the washing up. They're as good as gold."

She said the public's attitude to goths had been badly affected by a high-school shooting in America earlier this year, carried out by students dressed in black.

"A few things happened in the wake of the Columbine High massacre that really bothered me. "We would be walking down the street and I would hear things like 'How can she let them dress like that knowing what they're like' But they don't know anything about them.

"It's just because they dress differently and listen to bands like Marilyn Manson. I like his music as well - his lyrics are very intelligent and it's a lot more interesting than the Spice Girls."

Another goth who has suffered at the hands of rival gangs of youths is Toby Sennett. The 18-year-old student from Bitterne says he has been kicked, punched and even stoned in the street because of the way he looks.

He added: "Goths have been getting general abuse for ages but the physical attacks are quite a new thing.

"The people who have a go normally have shaved heads and wear sports clothes. I was attacked while walking with some other goth friends. I got a cut above the right eyebrow after repeated punches to the face. We've had people shouting abuse at us, throwing stones at us in the street.

"We dress in black and wear black make-up, but do we really deserve to be beaten up"

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.