CLAIMS that teenagers are running riot at a privately run children's home are being investigated by a concerned MP.

But management at Baltic House in Waterfoot have strongly denied that its problems are any worse than other homes in the county.

The allegations come the after four residents from the home appeared at Preston Crown Court accused of tieing up and robbing two care workers.

The youngsters, aged between 14 and 16, pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and taking a car without authority and are due to be sentenced on July 26.

The incident, which occurred on April 9, has been followed by a series of other incidents at the home.

Two residents, aged 13 and 14, appeared before Rawtenstall magistrates on Wednesday accused of burglary, unauthorised taking of a car and other motoring offences after a car stolen from nearby New Church Road on Saturday was found in Bradford.

Another teenager is currently missing from the home after absconding and a further youth was charged with damaging a door after an incident on Sunday.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has written several letters expressing concern about Baltic House and is due to visit the home in the next couple of weeks. She said: "I have had complaints from local residents and local business people about the residents running riot and I am very concerned about these reports."

Mrs Anderson is also worried about the impact on the community of the Heightside rehabilitation unit in New Church.

She said: "The police are not informed when offenders, some with serious convictions, are moved into the area."

Chief Insp Chris Bolton, of Rossendale Police, confirmed: "We are having certain problems in connection with Baltic House."

Baltic House is run by Family Support Services North West. The manager of the home Amanda Lunn said: "The young people who, for various reasons, have to live away from families and are living in care or in children's homes, are obviously damaged young people who, at various times, will become angry.

"That anger can, on occasions, be focused in such a way that property is damaged, but these incidents are almost always dealt with in-house and are the sort of incidents which are happening at similar establishments all the time.

"We have a lot of staff here and when young people go out they are supervised constantly.

"If people have any specific comments or concerns I would like to meet them and talk the issues through with them."

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