POLICE have promised to step up patrols following reports that gangs of rampaging teenagers are causing havoc.

Residents in The Avenue, Leigh, claim that for 18 months they have had to endure nuisance from marauding gangs of girls and boys who are causing thousands of pounds worth of damage by jumping on cars.

Now one is so fed up she has reported the matter to the police and written to Leigh MP Andy Burnham detailing the incidents.

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that gangs of under age young people are drinking in Lilford Park and swarming down the middle of The Avenue causing damage to parked vehicles and a danger to traffic.

She said: "They are coming from Lilford Park and jumping on cars causing dents in the bonnets and roofs and ripping off wing mirrors.

"We have had to replace at least eight wing mirrors ourselves, and on Saturday visitors parked outside a neighbour's house had their's ripped off.

"This menace has been going on for about 18 months but it is getting worse because of the lighter nights."

A police spokesman said officers would step up patrols in the area.

Mr Burnham said he had attended meetings with The Avenue Residents' Group and was aware of the situation.

He said the police now had dispersal powers and these could be used to alleviate the problem.

"There's a bit of a war going on out there, but we are determined to sort it out," vowed Cllr Brian Jarvis, chairman of Leigh Community Safety Group, on the eve of the implementation of a new Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

New police powers within the Lilford area means they can remove nuisance groups from public places between The Avenue, Holden Road, Langley Platt and Green Lane -- a zone which includes Lilford Park.

Already employed in the Tyldesley area, the ASBO extension comes just three months after the Antic Social Behaviour Act 2003 came into force.

"What's happening at Lilford can be mirrored throughout the area, " said Cllr Jarvis.

"We suspect the problem is alcohol-fuelled. It is affecting people's quality of life, it's a nightmare for some.

"But enough is enough and this is why we have decided to apply this dispersal of groups order. These gangs have done a lot of damage to cars, fences, walls and windows and created noise problems. It is an absolute disgrace and we're determined to stamp it out. They won't get it out.

And next week Leigh Township group will meet Higher Folds residents at Leigh Cricket Club in a bid to iron out problems of anti social behaviour on the estate.

Cllr Jarvis added: "We are determined to resolve it. We are not going to put up with it.

"If we can identify who is causing the problems we will look at tenancies and it could result in eviction on the grounds of sever anti social behaviour.

"The trouble is caused by large groups of youths mainly around the shopping centre. There has been damage to shops and property and break-ins, threats and intimidation.

"I want to reassure locals that a lot is going on behind the scenes to combat the problems with Police, Housing, Community Safety Group and the ASB task force combining.

"Perhaps some meeting point could be established similar to at Westleigh which would prevent the kids from annoying others."