A BIRCHWOOD man says he is afraid to go home after a spate of attacks by young thugs.

Rodney Bolton says the teeny tearaways have pelted the walls and windows of his home in Dunnock Grove, Oakwood, with eggs and tomatoes, hurled verbal abuse and broken the glass with stones.

Rodney, aged 59, says other neighbours have been targeted in the past, but lately the youngsters have made him their main victim.

"They have thrown things at other houses," he said, "but it seems to be mainly me at the moment. If I go out they shout and swear at me. Many of them are only eight or nine years old."

Now Rodney says things are so bad, he often goes out to avoid the trouble makers.

"I go to the day centre in Warrington," he said, "but now I am spending hours there just to get away. I don't like coming back here."

Rodney is hoping that he will be rehoused and is waiting for the housing association to find him a suitable property. He is even considering moving out of Warrington.

"It's frightening," he said, "especially at night."

"The police say they cannot do anything unless they know the names of the youths."

A spokesman for Risley police said: "There were similar incidents in other parts of Oakwood recently and we launched a special operation to deal with the problem.

"We couldn't get enough evidence to prosecute, but we did read the youngsters the riot act in front of their parents. It is possible that they may have moved to Dunnock Grove so we will run another operation and get something sorted out.

"Our big problem is that people are scared to report the youths because they have to live on the estate afterwards. I would encourage anyone who is experiencing problems with youths to get in touch with me. That's what I'm here for."

Contact Sgt Jones on 652222 ext. 2640 or ext. 4812.

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