WORRIED parents who claim their children have been subjected to violence at the hands of teenage gangs are fighting back.

The residents of Queen Street, Darwen, have got together a petition detailing incidents of violence and abuse they say takes place nightly.

Now they are preparing to hand in their complaints to Darwen police in the hope that the problems will be stopped.

Worried mother Naureen Anwar said her three-year-old niece was knocked to the ground and slapped by the teenagers who congregate in the street every evening.

Wendy Sandham claims her son, Brent, nine, was threatened by a thug who said he had a knife.

She said: "Brent is always having to look over his shoulder when he goes out to play. It is frightening."

Other residents listed complaints including:

Footballs kicked against the windows and doors

Teenagers sitting on window sills all evening

Ventilators being smashed at the front of the houses

Children's toys being pinched from them

Graffiti daubed on walls

Cable TV boxes and satellite TV dishes being used for football target practice.

One Queen Street resident, Brenda Webb, even resorted to putting cooking oil on her window ledge to stop the children sitting there. But she said: "They used to bring things to wipe the oil off so that they could sit down and then they would wipe the oil on my windows.

Tasleem Fazal said his two children, aged two and one, are unable to sleep at night because of the commotion.

Vicky Grunshaw and Georgina Owens both complained their children's sleep was also affected.

Mr Fazal added: "They have no respect for us. When we ask them to be quiet they swear at us.

"Some of these teenagers are around 15 or 16-years-old and they threaten us so there is not much we can do."

Most of the residents who are tenants of Northern Counties said they are trying to get transferred to other homes.

Sunnyhurst Ward Councillor David Smith said: "Children have always congregated in the the area, but the problem with vandalism has got worse.

"There is a play area close by at the end of Harwood Street and the council is going to returf it and put up goal posts so the children will have somewhere to play football."

Inspector Harry Bretherton of Darwen police said: "Inquiries are under way to examine the problem in this area.

"Blackburn Council's plans to resurface the play area are an excellent idea."

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