A 10-YEAR-OLD boy was left in agony after he slipped and broke his wrist fleeing from a gang of teenage thugs.

Jack Coote’s mum Lisa, 33, has now vowed to stand up to the gangs she says are terrorising the Roe Lee area of Blackburn, despite threats also being made against her.

Concerned councillors have also promised to raise the issue with police in a bid to get the nuisance sorted out.

Mum of three Lisa, of Whalley New Road, said something needed to be done to stop the youths, who were abusive and threatening to people in the area.

She said: “The kids are scared to go out. If they do these gang members are telling them, ‘we will get your mum and slit her throat’. The kids are terrified.”

Jack, a St Gabriel’s C of E Primary School Pupil, broke his wrist on Saturday night at around 7.30pm after being approached by a gang of more than 10 teenagers in the alleyway behind his house.

Lisa said her son was playing football with friends when some older children, who she believes are aged around 13 or 14, started swearing and threatening the innocent youngsters.

She said that as Jack turned to run back into the house he slipped, fell heavily and broke his right wrist.

Lisa said: “He came into the house in tears and was in so much pain.

“I took him to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and they put him on morphine and kept him overnight. They operated on Sunday and put a wire in his wrist.

“These gangs are bullying younger children round here and making them scared to go out.

"They don’t want to play out. They are terrorising the place and roam round thinking they own Roe Lee.

“My children are scared to got to the shops and when I go out for them instead they are worried for me.

"I’ve walked past these older lads and received abuse but I’m old enough not to worry.”

With two other sons, Sam Eddleston, nine, and Jordan Eddleston, four, Lisa said the fear was that the gangs, who wear dark tracksuits and hooded tops, could esculate their intimidation.

She added: “We are scared that it will get to the point where they are carrying knives and nobody wants that.

“Everyone round here has had enough but people are scared to speak out. This needs sorting out.”

Coun David Pearson, who represents Roe Lee on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he was very concerned about the problems.

He said: “I will make sure that I speak to police about this matter.

“There have been reports of groups of youths hanging around the Bargain Booze in Whalley New Road, but it seemed to have been quiet for a while.

“Any one experiencing problems can always contact us and we will do our best to deal with them.”

Police confirmed they were investigating the problem of gangs of youths in the area following Jack’s injuries.