A property factor has apologised after demanding residents stop their children drawing on the pavement with chalk, calling the action a “poor judgement call”.

Speirs Gumley issued the apology after sending residents in Bishopbriggs, north Glasgow, a letter demanding their children “refrain” from chalking on the pavement outside their home.

Managing director Iain Friel said in a statement he was “disappointed” the letter was issued and "it was a poor judgement call on our part to do so".

He added “common sense should have prevailed” and the request should have been dealt with “more sensitively”.

Read more: Bishopbriggs parents' fury as property factor demands kids stop playing hopscotch

Last week, residents received letters from the factors asking them to stop their children drawing on the pavement as it “detracts from the overall appearance of the development”.

Parents called the request “nonsense” and a “disgrace” that children were being told they could not play outside.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, told the Evening Times: “It’s a disgrace to say that children chalking hopscotch detracts from the appearance of the development, when we have been raising issues with them regarding things that are more concerning than the estate’s appearance.

“They are having a great time drawing with chalk in the path and it’s not harming anyone.

“As soon as it rains it gets washed off – it’s not as if they are writing graffiti on walls. It’s nonsense for the factor to attempt to crack down on kids just having fun. What next? A curfew?”

Donald Macdonald, chair of the Woodhill Residents Group, said the factor should “try to remember” when they were children themselves and we should be encouraging children to play outside.

Mr Friel said Spiers Gumley will be apologising directly to their clients for their handling of the issue.

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The factors have not said whether they received complaints from other residents regarding the chalk drawings, and in the letter sent to residents it stated the issue became apparent following a routing inspection.

Mr Friel said: “Admittedly, we do get these type of complaints from time to time in housing developments that we manage and, of course, we recognise that clients in the same development can hold differing views on how to resolve things.”

He added Spiers Gumley is a "big supporter" of the local charity PEEK, “whose mission it is to improve the lives of children and young people by unlocking their potential through play and by being creative”.