A COUPLE claim a gang of teenagers is waging a campaign of harassment against their corner shop.

John and Brenda Roberts say there has been a catalogue of attacks on the shop and its staff over the last six weeks, including theft and verbal abuse.

Things are so bad that two of the staff at J and B Roberts, in Springfield Road, Kearsley, are threatening to leave.

In one incident the couple claim that a youth distracted a till worker while another stole bottles of alcohol from the store room.

Police have taken CCTV footage of the incident to study and have asked the couple to keep a diary of future incidents to keep as evidence.

Mr and Mrs Roberts claim that those responsible are aged 18 and 19 but that children as young as 14 also hang around outside the shop drinking.

Police are also investigating an incident outside the store on the same night as the theft when a girl's face was slashed during a fight.

"We have been running this shop for 34 years and we have never had anything as bad as this," said Mrs Roberts.

"Several times we have had to phone the police because teenagers are threatening staff and giving all kinds of disgusting verbal abuse.

"Other times they harass our customers asking them to buy alcohol for them."

Mr Roberts said that all the staff at the shop were considering leaving.

Lib Dem Kearsley councillor Margaret Rothwell said it was a familiar story.

She said: "We have continual problem with youths congregating outside shops in Kearsley and elsewhere in Bolton. It is very intimidating for customers, but the police don't have enough resources to deal with it and it's difficult to get enough evidence to take them to court.

"Parents should be more responsible for their children, many don't seem to even know where they are."

A police spokesman said they were investigating all of the reported incidents.

Diary of a week at the shop

Monday

Phone box opposite set on fire by youths.

Tuesday

Shop wheelie bin set on fire by youths and staff put out the fire. One of the youths threatens staff who ask them about it.

Wednesday

Youths kick football at the windows and shutters and inside the shop every time the door opens for customers. They abuse staff who ask them to move on.

Thursday

The youths outside are chased by two strangers and one comes into the shop, jumps over the counter, and knocks goods to the floor.

Friday

Goods including bottles of cider and wine are stolen from the shop store room and found hidden in a bin outside. Later youths as young as 13 outside the shop ask customers to buy them drink. A gang of girls fight outside the shop and a girl's face is slashed.

Saturday

Two boys abuse staff who won't serve them because they are banned from the shop.

SHOP MISERY: Brenda Roberts