A PENSIONER was left with terrible injuries after he chased after youths who were taunting and tormenting him.

John McNeil, 81, fell and hit the kerb and police are now investigating to see if he was attacked while he was unconscious.

He is now recovering in Rossendale General Hospital with a badly bruised face, cut lip, black eyes. Several children have been questioned by police.

Mr McNeil, of Coronation Avenue, Padiham, had been watching TV with neighbour Dolly McCollun when she saw a face at the window.

Mr McNeil went to investigate and saw some teenage boys leaving his garden and noticed his hedge had been torn apart.

From his hospital bed he said: "I decided to have a look at what was going on, but there were more, about a dozen, and they came back at me a second time.

"They were taunting me and goading me to run after them and I got so rattled I had a go and I fell down and hit a kerb. I do not know if they hit me because I blacked out. I don't know how I got back to the house, but I crawled back in."

Mrs McCollun, 83, said Mr McNeil's face was covered in blood and she phoned for an ambulance.

She explained how residents on the estate lived in fear and terror because of constant harrassment from youngsters.

She said: "Every night I fasten my letter box shut with cardboard and drawing pins because they are forever pushing things through. I have had fireworks set off on my doorstep and there is a lot of vandalism."

A meeting of residents, police and council officials was held yesterday to discuss fears and problems.

Mr McNeil added: "If they hadn't been trespassing on my property I wouldn't have chased after them and I wouldn't be in hospital."

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