RESIDENTS on a Blackburn housing estate say they are living in fear of youths who terrorise their street by speeding around in cars late at night, throwing things at people and their homes.

One mum says the problem is so bad that she is too afraid to let her two-year-old daughter out after she was involved in a near-miss with a speeding car.

And fed-up residents in Hurstwood Avenue, on the Green Lane estate, have criticised police and housing association Twin Valley Homes for failing to provide a solution the problem.

Mum-of-three, Jennifer Price, 29, said: "There are cars going back and forth in the street all the time, especially late at night with people throwing bottles. I have had eggs thrown at my house.

"My children are coming up to the age where they could be playing outside, but I'm afraid to let them. People who don't want any trouble are intimidated and nothing seems to be done."

Grandmother Linda McPhee, 45, who lives with her daughter and son-in-law, has been in the street for 14 years. She said: "It's definitely got worse over the last few months. Sometimes I'm so depressed I just sit down and cry.

"It's really hard to sleep because of the cars speeding up and down and the youths in the street throw things and kick things, trying to intimidate people and threaten them."

Ward councillor Ron O'Keeffe said: "We are aware of this problem and various agencies are working to try to find a solution. Juvenile nuisance is an issue everywhere in the town, not just on this estate. I will contact the police again and would appeal to members of the community to get in touch with their local councillors to discuss their concerns so we can work together."

A police spokesman said: "If anybody is experiencing anti-social behaviour they need to let us know about it.

"The community beat manager for the area has attended a meeting regarding problems so we are aware that things are not as they should be but people are not reporting matters to us.

"If we are to put a stop to this situation we need people to come forward with information."

Twin Valley Homes chief executive Phil Richards said: "We are concerned to hear of such disturbances and we've tried to obtain details of incidents.

"The information to date from the community, although gratefully received, has been insufficient to take things further and we do not know if the troublemakers are our tenants.

"We will continue to work with the community and our partner agencies to try to help tenants affected by nuisance."