A FATHER-of-two today urged the police to crack down on a gang of bottle-throwing youths who are making residents' lives a misery.

Alan Durkin, 38, said the group of up to 50 teenagers were causing havoc at a landscaped area at the back of Asda in Blackburn every Friday night.

He said the rowdy boys and girls were hurling beer and wine bottles after bingeing on alcohol during the night.

Police today admitted there was a nuisance problem and said plans were in place to tackle the trouble.

They also confirmed that some of the teenagers had been targeted under the new juvenile referral initiative being piloted nationally in the Blackburn and Darwen division.

On Thursday the Lancashire Evening Telegraph reported how the pioneering scheme had slashed youth crime and disorder in the area by 80 per cent.

Mr Durkin, who lives in Merchant's Landing with his two children John, eight and Sarah, 10, said: "Some of these children are as young as 11.

"They spend the night drinking and throwing bottles across the canal. It is every Friday night.

"I have lived here for three years and it has happened during all that time. The police came last week and shepherded them away.

"But I am scared to walk my dog through the area when the youths are there. I am also scared for my own two children as any parent would be. "This is a nice area to live in - apart from Friday nights."

Inspector John O'Reilly, of Blackburn police, said: "A number of people have contacted us about the problems in that area.

"Officers are fully aware of what is going on. These youths turn up on Friday nights and there has been an increase in the numbers recently.

"A number of the addresses of the youths have been targeted under the juvenile referral scheme."

Under the scheme, 500 warning letters have been sent out to parents. If the youngsters continue to make trouble - in the six months after the letter is sent out - a second warning letter is sent to parents with copies going to the child's school.

Police said following the first warning only 20 per cent of the youths have continued causing trouble.

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