RESIDENTS, the police and youth service locked horns over problems with young people on the Hillock estate in Whitefield.

A group, mainly elderly residents claimed they had been harassed by local youths.

One man claimed teenagers had thrown a half brick through his window, a woman's house had been the target of a rifle pellet and one elderly lady said she had sat in her house in the dark, terrified to put the lights on because she knew gangs of youths were.

The residents voiced their concerns at Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board on Tuesday evening (April 20) at Ribble Drive Primary School and said the problems had increased over the previous two weeks.

Insp David Jones, head of Prestwich and Whitefield Township, said the increase in problems was probably down to the school holidays, but the residents failed to agree.

One woman said: "They are out on the streets at 10 o'clock at night and we shouldn't have to put up with it."

A gentleman added: "I have never seen a police officer where I live, and when you ring the police you can never get through."

Insp Jones urged residents to report all incidents and added: "Do not go out and confront these young people. Just ring the police."