A mother whose child's birthday was ruined by a gang of teenage yobs has called on Bradford's leisure venues to "get tough" on unruly youngsters.

Heidi Robinson, from Bradford, took her nine-year-old son and his two friends out for a birthday treat on Saturday but, she said, the special occasion rapidly turned into a nightmare.

The mother-of-one said their ordeal started at 1.30pm when they settled down in the Odeon cinema complex at the Gallagher Leisure Park in Thornbury to watch Cheaper by the Dozen 2, a PG certificate film.

"There was a gang of about 15 children sitting in the back row of the cinema all aged in their teens," said Miss Robinson.

She said most of them were girls but there were some boys.

"Before the film started they were being really noisy but we thought we would give them a chance to settle down," she said.

"They never did and throughout the film they shouted, swore and threw popcorn."

Miss Robinson said the bad language used was very distressing.

She went to go and get assistance from staff and said that a cinema employee did respond to her request for help.

Cliff Baillie, general manager at Odeon Bradford, said: "Staff on duty followed company protocol and the group in question was asked to temporarily leave the screening.

"The group was warned that they would be asked to leave the cinema immediately if they continued to disturb other cinema-goers.

"They were then allowed back into the screening, accompanied by a member of staff. The staff member remained in the auditorium for 40 minutes, until the end of the screening."

Determined to put the ordeal behind them, the birthday party moved on to the McDonalds restaurant in Thornbury.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw the same gang walk into McDonalds," said Miss Robinson.

"Their behaviour got even more unruly and when we told them to mind their language they got very abusive and threatening. My son Kieran was really upset and said he just wanted to go home," she said.

"The boys were intimidated and frightened by the gang and were very close to tears."

She said at the climax of the ordeal the gang was banging on the window of the restaurant and shouting at them.

Miss Robinson said that she had contacted the police about the incident but as yet had not received a visit from anyone.

She said the gang should have been thrown out of both venues.

"Bosses at entertainment venues which are marketed to attract families should stand up to this sort of behaviour to protect their customers," she said.

"I think more people should crack down on bad behaviour and let the culprits know it won't be tolerated."

Bradford City Centre Inspector Steve Baker said: "Bradford businesses are working with police to stamp out issues of anti-social behaviour and crime. These sorts of partnerships should be encouraged."