OFFICIALS of a Whitefield church and social centre have challenged police claims that some yobs targeting the premises are the children of its members.

They reacted angrily to comments from Inspector David Jones, head of Prestwich and Whitefield Township, that youths responsible for disturbances around St Bernadette's Church and Social Centre were connected to them.

But at Monday's (Dec 17) meeting of the Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board, Insp Jones stood by his statement that some children involved in incidents at the Bury New Road premises were the children of members.

The church and social centre has been plagued by vandals and young troublemakers for many months, and the problems were highlighted at the last area board meeting by churchgoer Mrs Frances Purdue. A number of centre committee members attended Monday's meeting to expand on their problems and quiz the Inspector over his comments.

One angry official told how foul-mouthed youths had disrupted choir rehearsals, by slamming doors, kicking windows and climbing onto the roof.

"On one occasion I confronted them, only for one to show his backside and then expose himself to a parent walking with three children."

Committee members refuted claims that some people at the centre and church were parents of troublemaking youths.

But Insp Jones reaffirmed: "They are local children, and some are even members of the church."

Police officers are capturing the drunken antics of youngsters on film and showing the footage to their parents.

Insp Jones said officers were taking this step to prove to parents that certain youngsters were drinking underage and causing annoyance to the public.

He revealed the tactic to the area board in response to questions about police action to tackle youth problems in the area.