HEARTLESS thugs are making life hell for staff and patients at a Kirkham hospital.

Workers at Wesham Park Hospital are being harrassed at night by groups of local youths who roam the premises and perform acts of mindless violence.

In recent months the gangs have smashed windows and destroyed hospital property, but events took a more sinister turn when a porter was struck on the shoulder by a rock and a colleague was intimidated as he went about his duties.

Sergeant Phil Blinkhorn from Kirkham police station told the Citizen that, although he could not yet prove anything, he knows who is responsible for the crimes. He said: "There are about three groups, consisting of around four people in each. They are aged between 12 and 15 and are well known for causing problems around our village."

He observed that the groups gather around the Safeway store car park, railway and hospital: "The kind of things they get up to are loitering, damage to property, harrassing shopkeepers and the like.

"Who knows why they do it? They're a bunch of local idiots!" Phil, along with colleague PC Mark Douthwaite, told The Citizen that they know who the ringleaders are, but until they catch them in the act, or on CCTV cameras, it is difficult to prosecute. CCTV is soon to be installed at the hospital along with better street lighting, but Tony Walker, Business Manager for the Facilities and Estates department with the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Trust - which manages Wesham Park - explained that the cash to pay for it is money which would normally be spent on patient care. He said: "In the end repairs caused by the vandalism, and the extra security needed as a result, always comes out of the tax payer's pocket."

Sgt Blinkhorn gave one possible explanation for the vandals' behaviour. "There were a number of youth clubs which were closed down recently after investigations by Health and Safety chiefs. As a result of this there are more kids out on the streets, which clearly doesn't help," he said.

"Wesham hospital was considering helping local youths out by lending them some building space, but after all the trouble there's no way they'll help now."

A number of ringleaders have been identified and letters sent to their parents inviting them to the station, but Sgt Blinkhorn doesn't hold out too much hope. "We might get a response, but even if we do it might not be a positive one."

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