RESIDENTS in Great Harwood are increasingly worried about the continuing anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood.

Those living close to Town Hall Street have expressed their concern at what they perceive as a ‘long-running problem’, involving groups of children running riot in the streets at night.

On Thursday, one resident saw children throwing items at the flats on Town Hall Street, including eggs, one of which hit a property.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The police are ineffective as any kind of deterrent.

“The block has many elderly and infirm people on the ground floor who can’t get away from it.

“One gentleman who lives below us is terrified and confused with dementia and it causes his wife immense pain to have to get up and see who is ringing her buzzer, what has landed on her window or which of her pots have been kicked over that she then has to walk round to pick up again.”

Following the incident on Thursday evening, the police were called but residents have been left dissatisfied with the outcome.

“Some people have already identified the perpetrators,” said one resident. “The police have attended but they always get away.

“Officers have assured me they had this kid's details and were going to visit his parents.

“This is genuinely the first time I have ever seen any kind of police presence here despite my partner contacting them several times to advise them of the vulnerability of our neighbours and their behaviour.

“From what I understand, it is a long-running problem.”

Noordad Aziz, Labour councillor for Netherton Ward, said: “I’ve not heard of any behaviour to this extent. Hopefully it will be a passing phase, but if not we need to work with the police for a long-term resolution as it’s not good for the residents."