Parents have been warned by police to become more responsible and know their children's whereabouts.

It has come after pensioners living opposite Eccleshill Recreation Ground said they were being intimidated by a gang of up to 50 youths.

They said the youths, aged between nine and 15, met at a bus stop outside the ground and often spilled into the road.

Eccleshill Police are monitoring the situation and a replica gun was taken from a youth during one incident.

Sadie Cordial, secretary of the Stone Hall Road Neighbourhood Watch, and other residents met PC Dave Bale of the Eccleshill Community Action Team at Eccleshill station yesterday.

She said: "They're intimidating people by their sheer numbers. They're shouting and drinking until late at night and some are even fornicating with each other.

"This is not a new problem. We had the same last year but then the kids moved to the old Morrisons supermarket site at Bolton Junction. That's being redeveloped so they've just come back here.

"We realise the kids want somewhere to gather and if they just stayed on the recreation ground there'd be less of a problem. I'm worried one will get knocked down by a car."

PC Bale said the majority of the children lived locally and were doing nothing illegal by just gathering on the recreational ground which was a public space.

He added the police would take positive action against anyone who committed a criminal offence.

He said: "We realise that the majority of the children are just being normal kids but they need to have a responsible attitude towards the people who live in the area.

"It's important that the parents take an active role in knowing where their children are and what they're up to. They should ask themselves would they like gangs of kids on their doorstep?"

Bradford North Youth Services area manager Paul Johnson said: "You need to balance the needs of old people with those of the young people. It's a community problem which needs to be addressed by the community."

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