NUISANCE teenagers are plaguing residents in Darwen, police have been told.

Concerns were aired at the police authority's community meeting for Blackburn with Darwen, at Darwen Access Point on Monday night.

One resident, Mrs Man Wong, of St John's Street, said: "Teenagers are causing a nuisance and I've just had enough, it goes on and on.

"We don't have any peace and quiet where we live. Now it's half-term they are back again and the summer holidays are the worst."

Mrs Wong, 38, who has lived with her son Trevor, 13, on St John's Street for two years, said problems involving children aged 12 to 15 started about nine months ago.

They have taunted her and thrown stones at her window.

Mrs Wong has written to Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson about the problem. In her letter she says the youths "sit on walls spitting, creating litter and use abusive and obscene language.

"They throw small stones at windows and even throw dirty paper cups or cloths into the house if a door or window is left open.

"They have broken gates, smashed milk bottles and continually rattle the local shop shutters".

Many better behaved children are afraid to play out and the youths have even been seen throwing rubbish and bottles on to the nearby railway track.

Inspector Tracie O'Gara, of Darwen police, who was at the meeting, said: "This has been an on-going problem in the Primrose Street and St John's Street area. A lot of police officers have been put up there and there have been arrests made and kids spoken to with parents." A resident on Belgrave Road added they also had problems with youths hanging around Bold Venture Park, and the phone box near the park had been smashed on numerous occasions.

Insp O'Gara said: "We have fought long and hard to remove the phone box and we have had around 14 police officers up there and have had success to some degree. We have had alcohol swoops but we are talking about 150 kids who go up there. We have spoken to parents and looked at ways at working with the local authority.

"It is not easy because although there may be quick-fix solutions, the long-term problem is that kids have nothing to do."

Insp Graham Ashcroft who is to take over the role of Inspector at Darwen next month said: "Certainly this is a problem and one of the main issues I'm going to address when I get to Darwen."