ELDERLY residents in a part of Great Yarmouth say they are living in fear as yobs terrorise them on a daily basis. Teenagers are running riot in the sheltered housing complex, in Frederick Road, with one woman saying “when it gets dark at night, we all get terrified”.

ELDERLY residents in a part of Great Yarmouth say they are living in fear as yobs terrorise them on a daily basis.

Teenagers are running riot in the sheltered housing complex, in Frederick Road, with one woman saying “when it gets dark at night, we all get terrified”.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour by a gang of unruly youths include throwing pebbles at windows, ripping up plants and urinating in gardens.

Sylvia Barber, 62, said residents who dare to ask the group to move on are threatened and one elderly woman is now sleeping at her daughter's nearby home in fear of being attacked.

Widow Mrs Barber said youths get into the communal area by three unlocked gates and also climb over walls.

However, she is now calling on Yarmouth Borough Council to lock the gates to prevent the area being used as a rat run from Northgate Street to West Road.

Great-grandmother Mrs Barber said: “The kids come round in groups of about four, sometimes more, and will often throw pebbles at people's windows. On one occasion, one elderly man had fallen asleep in his chair in the front room with the windows open. He was asleep with his mouth open and a neighbour caught some kids throwing stones through the window. They were trying to get them into his mouth.

“My door handle has been tried before and plants from my front garden have been ripped up and kids have urinated in the garden. “It's mostly elderly residents who live here and they are absolutely frightened out of their wits.” she added.

The anti-social behaviour started about three months ago and has escalated since, according to Mrs Barber.

Fellow resident Pat Warren said she had witnessed youths climbing over her back fence and going into the garden of a neighbouring bungalow and approached them with her dog. She said: “When I told them to leave they threatened to bash my head in and kill my dog.”

Acting Sgt Les Elliot, from the North Yarmouth safer neighbourhood team (SNT), said police were aware of the problems and patrols in the area had been increased. He said: “Even if we could get one of the gates locked that would prevent the area being used as a short cut.”

Denis Gilbert, community housing director from the borough council, reassured people in the area that the council was working closely with the SNT to ensure residents experience as few problems as possible. He said: “We have spoken with the tenants living there about locking the three gates which afford access into the sheltered housing.

“The majority of tenants do not want all three gates locked, as this will cause them problems with entry to their homes.

“We have agreed to lock one of the gates and to erect boarding at another to stop people looking into that area. Work will commence soon to carry this out.”