Police warn vigilante neighbours

The community at normally-quiet Princess Gardens, Feniscowles, has been divided following a spate of incidents involving teenagers in the last few weeks.

Old people have been subjected to verbal abuse, cars damaged and there have been incidents of under-age drinking.

Some residents say they have seen teenagers taking drugs and sniffing cigarette lighter fuel.

A letter has been sent anonymously to every home in the area listing the names of 16 teenagers it says are the main troublemakers.

But some people on the estate have accused their neighbours of conducting a "witch-hunt" and say things have been blown up out of all proportion.

One resident complained: "We don't want our estate turned into another Roman Road. We are determined to stamp things out before they get out of hand.

"They are nothing but troublemakers and we don't want them here. We just want our estate back to the way it was."

But one mum said: "It's nothing more than a witch-hunt. It's outrageous that they send out anonymous leaflets with kids' names on. It's just a group of people getting worked up over one or two small incidents."

Police admit there has been trouble on the estate but are warning people not to take the law into their own hands.

A public meeting due to be held in the community centre was cancelled on police advice following fears that residents would clash.

Inspector Andrew Pratt said: "People have been saying that they are going to 'get rid of scum' and we know some people are upset; but I want to make it clear that we do not want vigilantes.

"There has been an upsurge of incidents in the last few weeks and we are working towards setting up schemes to keep kids away from anti-social behaviour.

"Extra officers have been on patrol and a new community officer takes up a post in the area next week."

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