ANGRY residents are demanding police take action against groups of youths they claim are terrorising their neighbourhood.

And people living in the Marshall Avenue, Station Road area of Huncoat say their own youngsters are being targeted by adults selling alcohol.

The residents complained to officers attending the Hyndburn Police and Community Forum of a group of about 20 ten to 18-year-olds wreaking havoc in the town.

They listed a catalogue of incidents, including:

Children putting boulders outside the doors of Huncoat Methodist Church while a women's meeting was taking place preventing the women from leaving the building.

Young people running across the roofs of houses and Huncoat Primary School, in Lynwood Road.

Youths "mooning" and throwing stones at passing cars from a bus stop in Marshall Lane.

Children playing "chicken" in the main road.

Youngsters who had been drinking leaving broken glass bottles and alcohol containers in the school and church grounds.

One resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "It is getting absolutely ridiculous.

"Their language is appalling and the older generation feel intimidated by their behaviour.

"Now it's alcohol, but soon it may be drugs too and who knows what?

"These children are absolutely bored and there's' nowhere to go in Huncoat and nothing for them to do." Shaun Raywood, manager of the community warden scheme, highlighted an idea currently operating in Burnley where police and residents capture the culprits on video cameras.

These are then played back to their parents as proof of their behaviour.

Residents also asked if a community warden could patrol the region.

Chief Inspector Mac Downie of Accrington police said: "We put in a bid for money for a community warden scheme and for closed circuit television cameras in outlying areas but unfortunately they have been unsuccessful."

Police promised they would look into possible solutions to the problem.

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