GANGS of children have been terrorising a housing estate from their den built inside a rubbish tip.

The youngsters have buried deep into sand underneath a pile of garbage at the entrance to the estate in Ashton, Preston, to build a cave from which they have been tossing stones at passers-by.

One resident, Paul Freeman, 24, of Beverley Close, claims his five-month-old son narrowly escaped being hit by one of the missiles.

He said: "Stones came tumbling down right next to us - luckily I had the baby covered up because it was raining."

He added that two women who live close to the Tulketh Road site have been hit by stones. One claims a pebble bounced off her bus pass as she waited at the bus stop. "They pick on older folk who can't stand up to them, but I've chased them down the street before."

One of the women, who wants to remain anonymous, admits she was almost driven away because of the constant stress she suffers. "I then realised that I wouldn't be beaten and made to give up my lovely home," she declared.

Fears have also been raised for the children's safety after Councillor Elaine Abbot realised the den could collapse at any time.

She explained the hole, large enough for four children, had already been boarded up twice but the youngsters had simply tunnelled around the side of the panels.

Environmental health officers have even been forced to remove a tree after the children's digging had loosened its roots leaving it in danger of toppling over.

Councillor Abbot added: "Parents whose children's lives are at risk should be more worried about where they are at night."

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