A Polish couple who fled their homeland for Bradford after the atrocities of war say they have become the target of a hate campaign.

Alexandra and Edward Florkiewicz, who sought a haven in Britain after witnessing Nazi terror, say they are being persecuted by youths who pelt their house with stones and eggs.

The pair, who saw their homes destroyed during the war, are so scared they say they have not left their home at night for years.

And now their pride and joy - a greenhouse - has been destroyed by yobs showering it with stones.

Mrs Florkiewicz, 62, who had a cancer scare last year and is recovering from a major operation, said: "That greenhouse is our life. It's all we have and they've even taken that away from us. Now I give up."

Mrs Florkiewicz and her 85-year-old husband, who suffers heart and back problems, have lived in Bradford for 43 years and came to Britain as refugees.

She said: "They're ruining my life. I'm really shaken up. We never go out of the house at night because we're scared of what might happen."

Neighbour Catherine Thomas, 70, said she was furious the youths were making the couple's lives hell.

"They moved to Britain to be safe and now they're being persecuted in their own home."

Mrs Thomas said she had also suffered from yobs and had been woken by a youth hurling himself at her front door.

"I ran to the door and could see a young man throwing himself at it. I was petrified and screamed," she said. She said youths had been a problem in Bolton, Bradford, for about three years. "They throw soil and eggs at the houses and we're sick of it," she added.

Carol Wooller, chief officer of Age Concern for Bradford and District, said: "This seems a very distressing situation. Fortunately we don't hear of many cases like this and I'm glad police have been informed."

Acting Sergeant Aki Ullah, in the community action team at Eccleshill, said: "We are giving them as much support as possible and will be visiting them a few more times this week.

"We are looking into it but this is the first report they have made to us." He said youths congregating were a problem all over Bradford.

Last week he had dispersed more than 30 young people who gathered at a nearby school. "It can be very intimidating for older people," he added.

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