ONGOING incidents of anti-social behaviour in a Bradford park have prompted a friends group to launch a petition calling for more lighting and CCTV to make the area safer.

Naz Kosar, chairperson of the Friends of Bradford Moor Park group, spoke to the T&A about numerous incidents of ongoing anti-social behaviour in Bradford Moor Park.

She said in recent months many youths came into the park riding motorbikes, causing damage to grassed areas.

About a month ago, she also said a woman was racially abused by the youths and a 70-year-old man was attacked.

But more recently, she said the problems had escalated resulting in a 60-year-old sustaining injuries after reportedly being struck on the head.

Park users have also been plagued by youths burning heaps of rubbish in bonfires near the pond in the park, causing damage to grassed areas and leaving Bradford Council workers with a mess to clean up.

Last weekend, she said the bonfires were occurring almost nightly.

"We've had the fire brigade out and the police too. Police have patrolled the area.

"It's been terrible," said Naz. "There are burned areas of grass and nobody wants to see that.

"I'm sick to death of the fires being lit. They started out small but then they got bigger.

"There's been damage up by the pond, which we spent six months cleaning it out.

"We've gone and made the place beautiful and they're sabotaging our hard work.

"I have a five-year vision on how to make improvements in the park and they're spoiling it for many people."

"They don't have any regard for the park users," said Naz.

She also when the council have to come out to clean up the damage and when police and the fire service have had to respond to incidents, Naz said: "These call outs are costing taxpayers' money.

"People who visit the park are fed up and others are too scared or petrified to come into the park."

One person told the T&A: "I won't take my grandkids anymore. I'm too scared.

"It's almost like the young people are escalating the behaviour.

"A green space should be a safe place to visit for everyone," added Naz. "They've destroyed and tarnished the hard work we've carried out.

"We've been doing some local outreach work," said Naz, who has spoken to the youths. "They just tell me they're bored."

"They need to be caught and put on curfew."

The man who was attacked about a month ago, Muzammal Hussain, 70, described an incident where he pushed down when he spoke to the youths about riding on motorbikes in the park.

"They were swearing at me, approached and push me down on the path. I was in a state of shock.

"I was more concerned about my safety after that and I tried not to go to the park as much.

"People need to feel safe when they use a park.

"The incident shocked me," said Mr Hussain.

"It's ridiculous. These young people are completely out of control and they need sorting out," said Mr Hussain. "They need to be banned from the park.

"It's disgraceful that they've been setting fire to bins and other things.

"We're so lucky to have a park on our doorstep.

"People used to come to this park all the time."

The Friends group and local residents have been so frustrated that they have launched a petition calling for appropriate lighting and CCTV in Bradford Moor Park.

The online petition, which has almost 200 signatures, states: "Every night there is a group of youths setting fires, terrorising the street and causing a lot of distress.

"We need proper lighting and cameras to not only catch these people but for our safety!

"The lighting can help with them being able to see on a night and maybe play games on the field instead of setting it alight."

Although a petition has been launched, she did say the friends group has been working in partnership with other agencies to rectify the problems.

The Telegraph and Argus has contacted the police for a response to the problems in the park and Bradford Council has been contacted about the petition, but the T&A has yet to receive a response.