A GANG of youths outside a children's home hurled bricks at an ice cream van and sprayed fire extinguishers at cars as frightened residents looked on.

Police were called several times to the terraced house in Le Gendre Street, Tonge Moor after the gang called on two teenage girls living there.

Fire extinguishers were let off at parked cars, bricks were hurled at a visiting ice cream van, loud music was played and there was shouting and swearing until the early hours of the morning.

Next-door neighbour Joe Coop said: "Their carer actually asked us to ring the police."

Bolton Social Services bosses have now pledged to review the future of the community children's home.

Ice cream seller Mohamed Avais told the BEN how his van was surrounded and attacked by the youths as he made his daily evening visit to the street.

He had parked his van and was serving customers when the trouble started.

"They started shaking and kicking my van then throwing stones," he said.

"I was trying to ignore them and said 'Don't do that. I have just come here for business.'

"I was afraid. I thought they would break my windows."

Mr Avais said that it is not the first time he has had trouble in Le Gendre Street. In the past, youths have tried to steal his takings.

Vandalised

Mr Coop said that problems at the neighbouring property began two years ago when social services took over the council house to use as a temporary home for young people.

He said that fences and sheds have been attacked and the home has been repeatedly vandalised. He added that the teenagers drink alcopops outside and make noise until all hours, making life a misery for him, his wife Melanie and their five children.

Mr Coop said: "It is making me and my wife ill." My eldest daughter, Rachel is falling asleep at school because she is being kept awake by the noise."

He added that repeated complaints and meetings with social services managers over the last two years had failed to solve the problem. He is now calling on the council to shut the home.

Cheryl Eastwood, assistant director of social services with responsibility for children and family services said that she was aware of the problems.

"We do apologise to the neighbours. It is not something which we would want repeated," she said.

Managers are meeting with local residents this week to discuss the problems and Mrs Eastwood added that the two girls living at the house will be moving on.

"I am sure once these two move things will settle down," she said.

She added that social services will be considering the future of the home and whether Le Gendre Street is the best place for it.

"We will be keeping the situation under review," she said.