AN MP today demanded that laws should be made clearer to prevent people persecuted by yobs from being needlessly prosecuted if they retaliate.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans believes legislation needs re-drafting so people know exactly what they can do to protect themselves from trouble-making youths.

Mr Evans spoke out after the third case in six months of magistrates showing sympathy towards a defendant charged with an offence committed after they were provoked by yobs came to court last week.

Edward Coker, of Higher Croft, Blackburn, had a charge of assault dropped and was bound over in the sum of £50 to keep the peace.

He had lashed out at a member of a teenage gang who had targeted him, his wife and four children when they lived at Shadsworth, Blackburn.

His family were assaulted, his car vandalised and his home stoned by the gang until he finally snapped.

Mr Evans said: "People have a right to defend themselves but I would warn them to be very careful to make sure their retaliation isn't over the top.

"I shall be writing to the Home Secretary David Blunkett asking him to review the law so people know what they are entitled to do to defend themselves, their families and their property.

"I shall also be writing to the police for answers."

He added: "People do not have a right to take the law into their own hands and we need to look at what can be done before someone is killed by someone who feels threatened."

Currently, the law states that anyone is allowed to use reasonable force to protect themselves from criminals.

"People risk prosecution if their action is deemed over the top but it is unclear what level of force is unreasonable.

Mr Evans wants clarification on what can be considered self-defence of people and property.

In August, Hoghton newsagent Peter Bretheron was given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to assaulting a member of a teenage gang who had been plaguing his shop.

He hit the teenager with a snooker cue, breaking his arm.

He claims the problems still persist -- despite the magistrates publicly stating their unhappiness at the amount of police support made available.

And in September, Longridge man Michael Charnley was also conditionally discharged after assaulting a teenager who had thrown his son in a nettle bush.

Magistrates then said they could see why he reacted the way he did.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said it dealt with thousands of cases of juvenile nuisance call outs each year, many of which did not involve crimes being committed.

They pledged to help find solutions wherever there were real problems.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said: "In these cases, as with the newsagent in my constituency, there seem to be questions over the policing arrangements for dealing with yobbos.

"The police must look at how they respond to people whose lives are being plagued by young thugs."