HOOLIGANS as young as six attacked police patrol cars with bricks as they ran riot in Radcliffe.

The problems are so bad, one leading local policeman says he has never known anything like it.

Now residents in the Lever Street area of Radcliffe are demanding stern action from police who have admitted they are struggling to cope with the situation.

Mounted police and specially trained riot officers have already patrolled the area in a bid to calm rising tension.

A 30-strong mob, some members as young as six, are said to be behind a catalogue of terror which has included acts of vandalism, car racing, and intimidation.

Lever Street resident Alan Lydiate said: "The build up of kids has been phenomenal. One of the gang jumped up and down on the bonnet of my wife's car. The police are doing everything they can but the kids even throw bricks at the police cars." Neighbour Steve Cunliffe, of Lever Street, added that local residents had a "very bad problem with groups of children running riot."

Businesses on Coronation Road are also being subjected to the gang violence and vandalism.

Dave King, licensee of The Wilton Arms, on Coronation Road said: "The gang have broken windows, wrecked the telephone box and even pulled a bus stop up out of its concrete. I saw one lad climb up a lamp post and smash the light."

He added: "One night they had the streets to themselves and raced up and down with a wheelchair. It is quite frightening."

Shop owner John Fletcher said the gang had kicked and damaged the metal shutters belonging to his hardware store and other businesses along the road.

Inspector John Higson, head of Radcliffe Township Police, is urging residents to contact the police every time there is an incident in a bid to stamp out the growing unrest. He also suggests using video cameras to capture offences on film.

At a meeting of the Radcliffe Area Board he said: "I have never known anything like it. We have used mounted police in the area and have been assisted by the Tactical Aid Unit. However, we are struggling to master the problems."

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