RESIDENTS of a Blackburn estate are scared to leave their homes at night for fear of gangs of youths, it has been claimed.

A community meeting held for residents of Griffin, Galligreaves and Bank Top was told how at weekends gangs of youths have been known to roam the area, some armed with knives.

Residents claimed that at weekends police often have so much work to do that response times are 'five times slower' than other periods, and juvenile trouble makers take advantage of the situation.

But police reassured residents and said they were able to crack down on trouble makers using legislation like Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

Winnie Simpson, chairman of the Galligreaves Community Association, told the meeting, held at St Luke's and St Philip's Church, Bank Top: "For the last six months we have watched Galligreaves go down like the Titanic. It has never been what is considered a bad estate but because of very poor policing and the gangs of youths -- 20 or 30 are walking around at the weekend -- our elderly people are terrified.

"People are frightened and they will not come out of their houses."

One resident said: "Their parents don't know what they're doing. It's at a ridiculous level. I know Friday and Saturdays are extremely busy police wise, but the kids know this."

But Chief Superintendent David Mallaby, head of policing in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, denied response times were slower at night, and said recently he was aware of only one incident -- in Roebuck Close when 30 youths gathered but did not cause problems.

He promised to look into the claims and said: "Response times at midnight aren't five times slower. Everybody deserves a quality police service, it's my job to make sure we have sufficient resources on 24 hours a day.

"There are certain times when the demand is higher but that is my job, that is what I am paid for. We do have targets and they're no different at different times of the day. If local youths are taking advantage of it we will look at it."