A GANG of youths are ‘putting lives at risk’ by ambushing drivers on zebra crossings and throwing bricks at their windscreens.

The group of 30 teenagers have also been hiding at the side of the road in Shadsworth, Blackburn, and hurling the objects at moving vehicles, mainly taxis.

Police have launched a special operation aimed at catching the yobs which has seen them travel undercover as passengers in taxis and go into schools to warn children.

And a community leader said the youths ‘had to stop’ or they would make Shadsworth a ‘no go zone’ for taxis.

Khalid Mahmood, 42, who runs Intack Private Hire, said groups of up to 30 teenagers had been congregating on street corners in Shadsworth Road and causing the trouble.

In the latest incident on Monday evening a house brick was thrown through the windscreen of one of their cars.

The driver, 44-year-old Touqir Talib Hussain, was covered in smashed glass, but escaped injury.

Mr Mahmood said: “I want to appeal to the public because it’s time they took responsibility for what their children are doing.

“One of these days somebody is going to get killed by one of these bricks, especially as the car is going at speeds of up to 30mph.

“Sometimes one of the children will cross on a zebra or pelican crossing to get the car to slow down, and when they do, other members of the gang throw bricks at the car.”

Mr Hussain said he felt lucky not to have been injured.

He said: “I phoned the police and they came and chased the kids, but didn’t get them.

“It happens regularly.

“In recent months I have had my side windows smashed while I’ve been driving, and the bodywork is very badly damaged because of what gets thrown.

“Two weeks ago my car failed its MOT because of bodywork.

"I paid £200 to have it fixed, and now this has happened.

"There is about £700 of damage to repair. I can’t keep doing it.”

A spokesperson for 24-7 Taxis, Higher Audley Street, Blackburn, said their drivers had also been targeted.

He said: “Windows are being smashed and cars are being dented all the time.

“A couple of the drivers have been pretty shaken up.

“It’s a matter of catching the kids who are doing it.”

Coun Ronald O'Keeffe, representing the Shadsworth and Whitebirk ward, said he had discussed the problem with police and added: “This has just got to stop.

" Taxi firms will no longer pick people up in the Shadsworth area if this carries on and it will leave the people of this community very isolated because not many have cars and, in the evenings, the bus service is poor.”

Police said they had been running Operation Trojan in the area in a bid to stop the problems. This has involved the undercover work as well as extra police patrols in the area.

Officers have also been going into the area’s primary and secondary schools to warn children about the consequences of throwing bricks at cars.

Inspector Muz Patala said: “Local taxi operators provide a vital service to the public and attacks of this nature simply will not be tolerated.

“Working with the taxi companies and the local authority, we will be doing every thing we can to find those responsible and to prevent any future incidents.”

He urged anyone with information to call police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.