POLICE today warned troublemakers terrorising an East Lancashire estate: Carry on and we will catch you.

But officers working in the Knuzden area have urged residents not to stereotype all youngsters seen out and about after dark.

Area police inspector John O'Reilly spoke out after being deluged with complaints over the antics of youngsters in the Windsor Road and Brantwood Avenue areas.

Locals had complained to Knuzden councillor George Griffiths that cars had been vandalised, eggs pelted at homes and people and bricks thrown through windows over the Christmas and New Year period.

Today, Insp O'Reilly said: "We are aware of the problems here and it is something we are determined to pursue.

"We have had complaints about many things, including youngsters preventing people from walking into shops.

"However, some of the complaints are about youngsters just hanging around and while it is possible that they are intimidating, it is often just a case that they are just hanging around with no ill-intent.

"We have a good relationship with many of the youngsters and they talk to us when they see us."

But Insp O'Reilly added: "We know there are some troublemakers out there and we will find out who they are.

"This problem raised its head last year and we thought we had cracked it.

"But we will continue to talk to the people we know, including shopkeepers and residents, to find out who the troublemakers are.

"We will get their details and inform their parents of what they are doing and, of course, if they break the law we will come down on them like a ton of bricks."

The police's stance has been welcomed by Coun George Griffiths.

He said: "We need to see real punishment for people who are making lives a misery."

Insp O'Reilly said that Eastern Division's chief inspector, Andy Pratt, was now involved in organising a meeting with residents.