THE Family Planning Service at Billinge Clinic has been suspended until further notice after a mob of youths threatened staff and patients there last week.

The incident happened on the evening of Thursday, November 30. Staff said that a 10-strong gang, all aged between 13 and 15, entered the clinic in Rainford Road. Despite the presence of security guards and the clinic manager, the gang's aggressive behaviour terrified patients and staff.

As a result, nursing managers at St Helens and Knowsley Community (NHS) Trust have temporarily stopped the family planning service.

Director of Nursing Marion McWalters told the Star: "The clinic has been experiencing problems with a group of local children for some time now but things came to a head last week. Security guards were recently appointed to patrol the clinic but they felt so threatened that they are refusing to return to work.

"I believe the clinic's nurse manager was even pinned up against a wall by one of these thugs as she tried to remonstrate with them.

"As a result, the Trust feels it has no choice but to temporarily close the weekly Family Planning Service while we monitor the situation. This has been a tough decision and not one that has been taken lightly.

"At the end of the day, it affects everyone in Billinge but we hope that it will make the parents of these children, some of whom probably use the service themselves, take note and realise how much damage their children have been causing."

The clinic is also used by the Billinge Youth and Community Enterprise Project (BYCEP) and project manager, Janet Pennington said: "We try to provide a service for young people in the area but the lack of any proper community facilities has, in the past, caused a few problems.

"We have now got a community centre which may improve the situation but I must stress that the majority of young people in Billinge are law-abiding. We have recently set up a Youth Council to allow young people to have their say on local issues and they have been very concerned about this group causing problems.

"Our grant runs out in March and if something like this prevents us from getting another one, we will have to close, which will be very sad after all the work we have put into Billinge."

Billinge councillor Alma Atherton said: "I feel very ashamed that something like this has happened here. The actions of a small number of youths are going to affect the whole community including themselves.

"I hope this will make parents pay more attention to how their children spend their evenings. Also, anyone who witnesses a crime being committed in the area, should report it to the police immediately."

Sergeant Ian Fairweather said: "Over the last couple of months, we have received one or two complaints of bother in the area near the clinic but this particular incident was only reported to us after it was all over.

"However, the local sector police are investigating both this and another complaint of damage reported at the clinic. Anyone with information should pass it on to the local police station.