PEOPLE living in a leafy Preston suburb have armed themselves with baseball bats after a spate of attacks by gangs of young thugs.

Now Tony Hunt, 63, of Rowan Close, Penwortham, who had his living room window put through by youths, claims the latest police operation to tackle this sort of crime does not go far enough.

Mr Hunt and wife Mavis had just gone to bed when the teenage thugs hurled a breeze block through their front window.

But, despite police from Penwortham and Bamber Bridge launching Operation Curtail two weeks ago, in a bid to stamp out youth nuisance, the couple claim 'nothing has changed'.

They say there are still not enough bobbies on the beat and youngsters still prowl the streets, looking for trouble.

Mrs Hunt said: "Some residents have even installed a video camera out of fear.

"People don't want to take the law into their own hands but they feel the need after being victims of crime."

Their outburst comes as a burglar who broke into the home of Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, looks set to claim for compensation for injuries he sustained during the crime. Brendon Fearon whose friend was shot dead during the burglary, is making the claim from his prison cell. The farmer had his murder conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal and reduced his sentence. He is due for release from High Point Prison, Suffolk in July.

Speaking about the attack in March this year Mr Hunt, a retired computer worker, said: "I was lucky not to have been killed. The police followed this up and said that they would increase patrols. The following Friday there was no sign of them. They came the Friday after that, but I haven't seen them since.

"You don't see bobbies on the beat anymore."

Operation Curtail is the latest campaign to clamp down on teenage gangs. It follows on from an increase of criminal damage in the areas in the first half of the year.

Police are stepping up patrols on the Howick, Kingsfold, Priory and Manor estates, targeting youths who hang around the streets, drinking underage, causing a disturbance and committing crime.

Inspector Dave Robinson, heading Operation Curtail, said: "I can understand Mr Hunt's concerns. We would like to have more of us on the job, but we are making the most of resources and supplementing with officers throughout the division."

As part of the operation, police are also trying to stop underage drinking. "We want young people in the community to realise the impact they are having on other people's lives," said Insp Robinson.

"Most of these youngsters live here and they do not respect the other residents."

Letters are also being distributed to parents of known offenders and police are hoping that parents will co-operate with them.

Insp Robinson said: "The message we want to get across to parents is 'do you know where your children are?'."