ROSSENDALE'S MP is calling a public meeting to get to grips with problems caused by nuisance youngsters in Stacksteads.

The move comes after juvenile thugs were moved on from the Toll Bar area and are now plaguing neighbouring estates including homes round Hammond Avenue.

Janet Anderson now wants the police to target the parents to stop the young criminals making people's lives a misery.

Together with local councillors Michael McShea and Christine Lamb, the Rossendale and Darwen MP has organised a public meeting for Tuesday, June 1 at Acre Mill.

She said: "There seems to be a serious problem in Stacksteads with juvenile nuisance.

"Now they have been banned from the Toll Bar area, they have turned their sights to some of the neighbouring estates.

"Good knows where the parents of these kids are.

"We are inviting the police to be represented at the meeting to see whether collectively we can resolve the problem.

"Some of these children are apparently quite young -- eight or nine years old, others are teenagers.

"They are damaging cars, disturbing gardens and generally terrorising the neighbourhoods.

"We need to take firm action to stop this. I don't want just to see these gangs shifted from place to place in Stacksteads.

"I take a very firm view on this. We need to target the parents and tell them to get a grip on their children.

"I want the police to find out who the parents are and go and see them.

"We need to get as many people as possible to the meeting on June 1 so we can make clear to the youngsters and their parents that this behaviour will not be tolerated."