Emos and Goths - 'don't be afraid of us'

And they said they congregate in Church Street on Saturdays because they have nowhere to meet where they feel safe.

A group of between 30 and 40 youngsters meets at the top of Church Street opposite Barclays Bank every Saturday from 11am to 7pm to get together and relax.' But the group of around 30 who were in Church Street on Saturday said they did understand the large group does look intimating to onlookers.

And they urged shoppers and businesses, who claimed they were scaring away customers, to say hello as they are not yobs just 'friendly, calm, everyday people.' Goth style is well known, but Emo refers to fans of modern rock music which has emotional lyrics and followers typically wear tight-fitting jeans and have long fringes covering part of their face.

Blackburn Chamber of Trade and Church Street businessman John Wilman recently opened Pavilion Interiors in the final pavilion in Church Street, Blackburn, completing a multi-million restoration of the three buildings.

But he said the large groups of up to 30 youths had made him regret opening the shop.

He said: "I have yet again had to ring the police because yobs outside the pavilions are chanting and are out of control. This is a major issue."

The group who gather in Church Street insist that the majority of them don't cause any problems.

Samantha Moore, 18, of Blackburn Road, Rishton, said: "We hang around here because there are no places in Blackburn we can go.

"Blackburn is a middle place for all of us; there are people here from Darwen, Rishton, Accrington, Clitheroe and other areas.

Rory Cooper, 18, of Grove Street, Bamber Bridge, said: "I can understand how a big group can seem intimidating but no-one here has anywhere else to go."

Rob Livesey, 18, of Griffin Road, Blackburn, said: "The only reason we are being moved on when the chavs aren't is because of the way we dress."

Blackburn Police said it would send officers to talk to the teenagers to find a solution.