CHILDREN of primary school age and above allegedly “terrorised” pensioners and other residents in Hyndburn this weekend by “wielding knives and machetes”.

According to one witness, the youths were causing damage to street signs and property with bladed articles while harassing pensioners and threatening people in the street on Hollins Lane and Royds Avenue, Baxenden.

Some of the children are believed to be as young as 11 - year six primary school pupils. 

Martin Astley, who confronted the unruly children, said: “It started on Saturday when I noticed these youths antagonising some pensioners. I started to video what they were up to as I was out cleaning my car and they were scratching road signs with Stanley knives.

“I asked one of them, ‘have you got a knife?’, and he said he had. They ran away then.

“They came back with some more youths on Sunday and this time they’d got huge kitchen knives, machetes and Stanley knives. When I came out of the front door, one of them ran towards me with a knife."

Mr Astley says at this point he ran back towards the threatening child while "screaming" which led to the aggressor "running away".

He added: “It’s unbelievable. From others I’ve spoken to since I put this out on Facebook, they’ve been attacking and threatening people in the area and causing issues for a while round near Oakhill Park.”

Mr Astley phoned Lancashire Police on Sunday but when officers arrived the children had dispersed.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We were called around 4.20pm yesterday (Sunday, March 6) to a report of nuisance in Royds Street, Accrington.

“It was reported five boys were stood outside an address, with one of the boys possibly holding a knife.

“Police attended the scene but the group had made off. Enquiries are ongoing.”