Residents living near York Bridge in Morecambe say they are prepared to pay to install surveillance equipment to identify youths who run riot, smashing windows of houses and cars in the James Street area.

One householder claims to have suffered £4,000 worth of damage to his property by youths.

And the licensee of the nearby York Hotel pub said the situation has got so bad that someone could be killed.

Residents demanded action from police during a tense emergency meeting at the pub.

"People are being terrorised in their own houses – some are at their wits' end," said Mick Dennison, who has himself suffered vandalism.

"(York Bridge) surgery car park has become a hang-out for gangs of kids. They throw bricks at people's walls and off the roof of the surgery.

"It only takes one brick to go through an old lady's window and someone could end up dead.

"I've had windows put through at the pub by these kids. They aren't frightened of authority. They shouldn't be talking to adults like they do.

"Some of these kids are eight and nine, out on the street at 10.30 or 11 at night, and they know the law is on their side.

"A lot of people have put their houses up for sale because of this.
"But we're being told we're not allowed to put cameras up that overlook people's homes."

Coun Evelyn Archer, one of three ward councillors for the area, said: "It's a problem but it's not just one for the police.

"Parents must take responsibility for their children's behaviour. It's making the lives of some of the residents a total misery and it can't go on."

Coun Archer said one possible solution was to create somewhere for children to play – like a multi-use games area on the 'clay pits' waste ground near the Trimpell Club.

Last May The Visitor reported that York Bridge Surgery was being targeted by young vandals.

Partner Dr Sarah Brear said they had ripped lead flashing off the roof, spat on the surgery door, thrown eggs at the windows and uprooted cherry trees outside the premises.

PC John Davis, community beat manager for the area, said: "We have received a number of complaints from residents of the York Bridge area and as a result of their concerns we have established this new monthly Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.

"It was a well-attended meeting with a lot of useful information for the police and other agencies to look in to.

"We have been working on this problem since it came to our attention last September and have implemented a number of actions which we hope will remedy the problems. The community can help by providing any information they have in regards the behaviour of local youths in the area.

"I would like to thank the residents for their help and support and I can assure them that we are working with our partners to help improve their area.''

The next PACT meeting is at the York Hotel on Tuesday, May 27, at 7pm.