A FRIGHTENED grandmother who has been too scared to leave her home for five weeks today told how she was being terrorised by young yobs.

Mrs Winifred Haworth, 73, broke down as she described becoming a prisoner in her own home because a catalogue of incidents including:

Raw eggs, soil and stones being thrown - day and night -at the windows of her council home.

Booby traps being set up in her garden by youths aged between nine and 18.

Verbal abuse and constant taunts.

Noisy drinking binges.

Vandalism attacks on neighbouring property.

The disabled pensioner of Dunoon Drive, Shadsworth, Blackburn, is appealing to the gangs to call off their hate campaign which she believes started because she complained about their behaviour. She said: "I haven't put a foot out of the door for five weeks. The police are constantly here. They have been wonderful and my family are also watching out for me but I'm at the end of my tether. "I can't understand why they are picking on me. I have never done anything to them and I'm sure they wouldn't like it if somebody was doing these things to their mother or grandmother."

Mrs Howarth has ten grandchildren and says she has been forced to ask one of them to stay with her during the night.

"I have a lovely family and they are really worried about me," she said.

"My granddaughter has been staying with me because she knows how frightened I am.

"I'm not the only disabled elderly person on this estate having to put up with their carryings on.

"It's about time they and their parents, realised how much upset they are causing."

Sergeant Judith Finney of Blackburn police, who has been to see the pensioner to investigate the attacks, added: "We have stepped up our presence in the area in attempt to resolve the problems.

"A number of juveniles have been spoken to and we are making further inquiries to identify those concerned.

"Our aim is to make the public feel safe, involved and reassured and we are taking the matter very seriously."

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