A young gang's two-year reign of terror has left pensioners in East Bowling fearing for their safety in their homes.

Councillor Mukhtar Ali (Lab, Bowling) is demanding the police take action against the thugs - some thought to be as young as six - who are targeting at least six elderly people on a daily basis.

Pensioners claim they regularly suffer stones and bottles being thrown at their windows, have graffiti daubed on their front doors and are verbally abused in the street when they leave their homes.

Two of the victims are Asian women who live alone and are unable to speak English.

One of them, a 63-year-old woman who was too scared to be named, said in one incident she was hit by a glass bottle thrown by a teenager. She said: "We are afraid to go out and afraid to stay in.

"When they are bombarding my front door, I sit at the back of my home and when they are attacking the back I sit at the front. I feel so alone."

Her nephew Darshan Singh, a Bradford taxi driver, said: "The elderly people in this area are leading a very harsh life.

"I just wish I could move my aunt away because she is not safe in her own home. She will not answer the door and is afraid to go outside. It is hard to believe people live in such fear."

Another Asian woman in her sixties said: "I live in the dark because I leave my curtains closed in the hope they will leave me alone.

"I am so depressed. I want to move away but where would I go?"

Pensioner Alice Rowntree, 79, said her home had also been bombarded by stones and eggs thrown by the gang, who operate in a small area around Brompton Road, Ashill Walk and Peach Walk.

"Elderly people around here are terrified. These kids hide out in the bushes at night and they will do anything they can to make our lives a misery," she said.

Councillor Ali said: "People in the area know who these kids are and it is up to the police to do something about them. These people live in constant fear. They believe there is no-one out there to help them.

"It has been going on for two years and it has got to stop. "

A spokesman for Bradford South police said: "We're aware of ongoing problems with youths in the area and are striving to tackle them with permanent solutions. "We would like to encourage residents to continue reporting these incidents to us. People should feel safe where they live and we won't tolerate mindless behaviour."