Paradise has been lost for residents of a Heaton village street who say gangs of youths are terrorising their peaceful neighbourhood.

The families, who all live off Paradise Road, claim the youths deal and take drugs, drink and dump litter on land behind their homes.

They have formed an action group to try to tackle the problem and have written to people appealing for help, including columnist Lynda Lee-Potter and the Tidy Britain Group.

"The history books tell us that this area was called Paradise Road because it was so idyllic," said a spokesman for the Old Village Action Group, who did not want to be named.

"We want this area restored to how it was at its best - a peaceful, little backwater - and not run the gauntlet through gangs of youths every day.

"We've seen packages being exchanged for money from car windows and cars containing older men screech through the streets and pick up youngsters after dark. They dump their beer cans and bottles and we're out daily picking up litter after them.

"We've written to different agencies and key people in the community, appealing for their help, because we've had enough.

"When we read in the T&A what Lynda Lee-Potter had said about Bradford it angered us because she was right.

"Looking round our own neighbourhood, we had to agree with her and it definitely spurred us on with our campaign."

They are being helped by Heaton councillor Stanley King, who said: "Paradise Road should be as it says. It is very intimidating for residents to encounter these gangs every day.''

A spokesman for Toller Lane Police said: "There is a regular routine police presence in the area. We are looking into the allegations and a strategy will be drawn up if necessary."

The residents said that the land where the youths congregated is owned by Heaton Baptist Church. One resident said: "We have been in contact with the church but there is little they can do because of limited resources.''

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