A LANDLADY today branded a group of tearaway teenagers 'a pack of wolves' who are running riot in an East Lancashire town.

Joan Westwood, of the New Inn, Rochdale Road, Bacup, said the gang are regularly out in the town flouting the law and causing misery and mayhem.

In the latest incident, Mrs Westwood called the police to move youths from near her pub but is furious that her car was later damaged and believes the gang is responsible.

Mrs Westwood said: "I saw a gang hanging out close to Options Hair Salon. There were about 20 of them. Some young and some in their late teens. There were girls as well as boys. I told them to move on or I would get the police. They are like packs of wolves."

Then in the early hours of Saturday, someone pushed an industrial wheelie bin from the back of Pioneer Health Studio, down steep Alma Street and into Mrs Westwood's Ford Fiesta car which was parked on the road outside the pub.

She said: "I just got back from doing some shopping on Saturday at about 11.30am and my husband said my wing mirror had been broken. When I went to look the whole of my driver's door was caved in where the wheelie bin had landed. They had also kicked the door on the passenger side.

"I can't open my driver's door now even from the inside and I have to wait five days before the insurance company comes out to see what to do."

She said if the vehicle was written off by the insurance company she would only get £300 back after paying the excess.

Mrs Westwood and her husband Donald have been at the New Inn for two-and-a-half-years and previously they were at the British Queen in Union Street for three years.

She said: "Our clientele is really nice but there are a lot of older people who are getting frightened about coming out late at night because there are gangs hanging about on the street corners.

"If they get caught they put forward a younger child to take responsibility and then there is nothing the police can do. I have called the police out so many times my name must be all over their log."

In recent months ten-year-old Nadia Butler, of Birch Street, Bacup, was hit in the face with a brick causing damage to her right eye.

There have also been repeated incidents of criminal damage in the town centre with vehicles being damaged after stones were thrown at them and at the Waterloo Pub, just a few yards from the New Inn, an air rifle was shot at an upstairs window.

Bacup Sergeant Richard Clare from Bacup Police said: "We have had a number of reports concerning the behaviour of youths in Bacup and we are taking positive action.

"A number of suspects have been identified and where appropriate, arrests will follow. In addition, we are currently working with the Local Authority in order to secure Anti-social Behaviour Orders for two local youths."

He added: "We know juvenile nuisance is a cause for concern.

"I would urge anybody who has any further information about these youths to contact local police or perhaps leave a message for their new Community Beat Officer, PC Clare Foster on 01282 472969."