A DISTRAUGHT grandad today told how his 10-month -old baby grandson narrowly escaped serious injury when a concrete block was hurled through the window of their home.

What happened next on a Colne estate led to four members of the baby's family being bound over by magistrates to keep the peace.

But today Graham Bracewell, 44, said he and his sons only ended up fighting with a group of teenagers after suffering months of problems which ended with a brick being hurled through the window of his home.

Speaking outside court he said: "My daughter-in-law had just settled Josh in his pram and moved away from the window when a big lump of concrete came flying through and just missed the pram.

"He was showered with glass. These people are just brain dead.

"I would usually just ignore them but not when the concrete just narrowly missed my grandson."

Pendle Council confirmed they were aware of some anti-social behaviour problems but "did not view the family as merely the victims".

Burnley Magistrates heard how Mr Bracewell's 10-month-old baby grandson Josh could have died when a brick was hurled through the window of his family home.

Dylan Bradshaw , representing David, Carl, Graham and Matthew Bracewell said police had taken no interest in the problems that had led up to the incident -- but the family would now have to make a nuisance of themselves by alerting officers every time trouble was brewing.

David Bracewell, of Talbot Street, and Carl, 23, Graham, 44, and Matthew Bracewell, 20, of Birtwistle Avenue, all Colne, admitted breaching the peace and were bound over in the sum of £100, for 12 months. Allegations of threatening behaviour against them were withdrawn.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, said on Sunday night, damage had been caused to a window on Birtwistle Avenue, police were called.

Carl Bracewell urged police to lock him up if they could.

Matthew Bracewell was heard by another officer to say: "I'm going to do him," another bystander was threatened, officers stopped him approaching the person and the defendants were arrested after a struggle.

Mr Bradshaw said the Bracewell's family home had been subjected to a catalogue of damage for several months.

Civil proceedings were being started and there was a dispute between the family and the council over rehousing.

The family home had been besieged by young men and the block had been hurled through a window, narrowly missing David Bracewell's 10-month-old son.

The defendants had thought "enough is enough," and had gone outside to confront the gang. They thought it was one thing to provoke the adult members of a family, but it was inexcusable to hurl a brick of that size through the window of a home.

Mr Bradshaw claimed the police showed no interest in the incident and things were done and said which were now regretted.

Speaking after the court case Graham Bracewell said his family were sick and tired of the youths hanging about outside their home.

He said: "We've had enough. They are there during the day and at night and over the years the problems have accelerated. There are sometimes about ten to 14 of them on our doorstep and they around 16, 17 and 18 years old.

"It's the same ones all the time and we know who they are. I think during the day it's drugs more than anything and at night they just get a buzz from drinking on the park and because our house is right next to it we are an easy target."

Mrs Sharon Bracewell said they would move house apart from the fact they have lived there for 16 years and done a lot of work to their home.

She said: "Basically the council know this is a long-standing problem and they are supposed to provide us with a secure environment to live in and I don't feel they are doing enough."

Helen McCale, the council's housing and community care manager, said: "We are aware of some issues in relation to anti-social behaviour and all I can say is that we do not view this family as merely the victims. The council is looking into this and I feel it would be inappropriate to comment further."