Police have pledged to get tough on youths victimising staff and shoppers at a community supermarket.

Workers from the Co-op Late Shop at the Top Shops parade in Holme Wood have been urged to contact police every time they suffer violence or harassment from a gang of youths who gather outside.

And members of the Holme Wood Village Executive plan to contact the families of children responsible for threatening people in the store and shoplifting.

At an emergency meeting attended by police, shop staff, headteachers and community leaders, Inspector Bob Southgate of Odsal police said he was unaware of the scale of the problem until he read about it in the Telegraph & Argus.

"We had three calls about it and yet we read there was a horror story going on at the top parade," he said.

"People should call every time they see trouble. I will make sure this will be a priority."

On Monday the T&A revealed that Yorkshire Co-ops chief executive Tony Henry was prepared to close the recently refurbished store if staff remained at risk.

An action plan had been drawn up by police which involved high-profile patrols - but uniformed officers had not witnessed any trouble.

Late Store manager Julie Harris said turnover was down £2,000 a week last month because people were too scared to shop there.

She said: "It started with two or three people but on Sunday there were about 40 out there - it was like a scene from the film The Birds. As soon as they've aggravated you and stuffed as much as they can in their pockets they run off."

A representative from the neighbouring Holme Wood Advice Centre said all windows had been smashed and staff had stopped afternoon meetings because of noise and abuse from children congregating after school.

Centre staff now plan to use other buildings on the estate to escape harassment.

Representatives at the meeting pledged to work together to identify the people responsible for the thefts and harassment.

And shopkeepers agreed to keep a log of incidents which would then be collated by the Holme Wood Executive.

Housing manager Ian Simpson said families living in council properties could be evicted if their children were found to be involved in the trouble.

Holme Wood's other shopping parade, beside Holme Wood Road, was targeted by police in the spring after shop owners complained of harassment and shoplifting.

Insp Southgate warned it was likely the same youths were behind the current trouble and a co-ordinated approach was needed to stop the problem simply moving elsewhere.

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