TEARAWAYS as young as ten have been terrorising residents of an Ilkley street, leaving their victims terrified of their antics.

Residents of Dean Street, off Leeds Road, have been plagued with foul language, vandalism, noise, urinating and other problems from the 12 to 15-strong gang of youths aged between ten and 15.

They only agreed to talk to the Gazette with the strict condition that their names and addresses would not be revealed for fear of reprisals.

One resident contacted the Gazette in an attempt to draw attention to the problem which affects old people's flats and the Olicana Stores Post Office and shop on the corner.

The resident said: "I arrived at the shop recently to find a locksmith fitting new locks after the door had all but been kicked through the previous evening and a thoroughly frustrated shopkeeper at his wits end.

"This feeling is shared by the residents of the street who are plagued by the vandalism, urinating, letting down tyres, noise and extremely foul and abusive language on an almost nightly basis.

"Young children are frightened, awoken from their sleep, and some elderly residents are even afraid to venture out to the shop in evening time, and rely on the shopkeeper to bring their goods to them.

"How long before someone gets seriously hurt or worse? Do we not pay enough in Council Tax to warrant some preventative measures for such behaviour in Ilkley of all places."

One resident of the old people's flats said that electronic door locks had had to be fitted on the front of the building to keep the youths out.

Another pensioner said: "I have had them dropping their trousers at the back and recently there have been bottles left on the lawn. Why have they to be like that?"

A mum with three children said that she and her husband had both had to go out and tell the youths to quiet down after her youngsters had been awakened by the noise they were making.

She said: "They hang around the shop - they are an absolute pain. It is not a nice place. We have only been here about three years and the last six months have been horrible."

Another neighbour who told the youths off was rewarded by having a barrage of eggs smashed against her front window. She also accused the youths of shouting racist abuse at the Asian shop owners.

"It is quite intimidating really," she said.

Another woman neighbour who has lived in Dean Street for six years said: "It is awful. It is frightening - They are not just walking up and down they are on the street for half-an-hour. Screaming shouting, making noise."

Ilkley District Councillor Martin Smith said: "That is not acceptable behaviour. They need to be advised of their responsibilities to the community."

A member of the neighbourhood police team for the area Sergeant Peter Richmond, said: "The community police officer for the area, PC Mark Newton, is aware of the problem and work is on-going to solve them.

"Five youths have been arrested in relation to damage to a vehicle and investigations into that are continuing. Also our youth offending team is carrying out preliminary work with a view to using anti-social behaviour legislation and we encourage residents to continue to report anti-social and criminal behaviour."

Kim Poole, is a Bradford Council youth worker based at the Warehouse Youth Club, on nearby Little Lane. She said: "We are working closely with Ilkley police to see how we can reduce the problems they are giving residents, by giving them somewhere to go.

"I am more than happy for residents to pop in and see me about it and If anyone has any issues that need addressing I would be happy for them to contact me about it." Miss Poole can be contacted by telephone on 0779581 2413.