VIOLENT youths have terrorised a Barry neighbourhood in a four-night, drink-fuelled rampage.

Residents on the Buttrills estate say they are living in fear of a 50-strong gang who have been damaging cars and property since last Saturday night.

The nightmare situation came to a head on Tuesday night, when the local community hall was stoned while pensioners were inside.

One father-of-three, who does not want to be identified, is worried that this mob will not stop.

The North Walk resident said: "On Tuesday night, the kids started gathering around the community hall, where the pensioners were playing bingo, at around 7pm.

"They've been hanging around here for the last month, every Friday and Saturday night. But since the start of half-term holiday, they've been out of control."

The gang appear to be in their mid-teens, boys and girls.

"They're kicking wing mirrors off cars, smashing windscreens and throwing stones, glass bottles and rubbish all over the place. They're even bringing mirrors with them that they've ripped from other cars on the way.

He added: "On Tuesday night, they were wild. It was like a riot scene from a film. They circled the community centre, throwing stones, banging on the windows, and kicking the door. They'd been drinking, and still had cans and bottles with them.

"At 9.55pm, I told my wife to call 999 and ran out to the centre. It was time for the pensioners to leave, but I knew they'd be terrified. They've already cancelled their Saturday night games."

The man explained how he ran out barefoot to challenge the youngsters and ended up slicing his instep on shards of glass.

He said that although the group eventually scattered, he is angry at the police's response to the incident.

"They had moved away by the time the police arrived, so officers could not find them.

"One WPC said she'd come back to see me in four days with the Community Constable. But the gang will have wrecked the place by then.

"This could have been stopped before it even started. I phoned Barry police station at 7pm, letting them know the gang, who had been here over the weekend and Monday, were back again, to ask if they could come disperse them. But they did nothing and it escalated. It's not good enough."

The News contacted the South Wales Police repeatedly for a response, but they were unable to comment by the time we went to press.