RESIDENTS on a trouble-hit Guisborough estate have branded council wardens and police support officers a waste of time and money.

People living in the Helmsley Drive area of the Wilton Lane estate claimed council community wardens treated it as a no-go area, while police support officers rarely patrolled the streets and alleyways.

Gangs of between 15 and 60 youths aged from 12 to 17, who regularly gather on the estate, have smashed windows and terrorised residents, many of whom are elderly or disabled.

Residents say drug dealing is carried out in broad daylight and youths drink alcohol and have sex in the labyrinth of footpaths and alleys.

Bernard Richmond has started a petition calling for police action against the gangs.

The petition is being forwarded to Sean Price, the chief constable of Cleveland; the Coast and Country Housing Association, which owns most of the properties; Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Dr Ashok Kumar MP.

It states: "We complain about the apparent lack of interest by police officers on the subjects of openly dealing in drugs and the anti-social behaviour of gangs of youths and girls who roam the estate targeting the old and infirm persons' properties, causing untold damage and fear."

Mr Richmond collected 60 signatures in just two hours and said he had been approached by many more residents wanting to add their names.

He said: "We've had this problem all the time we've been here, which is 2 years, but it's been going on a lot longer than that.

"A lot of these kids are not from the estate, but they come here for the drugs, the drink and to cause trouble."

Raithwaite House, a block of flats populated by mainly elderly residents, is a particular target for the gangs.

A 70-year-old woman, who is virtually blind and walks with the aid of crutches, said she was recently threatened on her doorstep by three youths wearing ski masks.

A 90-year-old man, who had his flat window broken by yobs last Friday, said: "I've lived here for 12 years and I always felt secure, but I don't feel safe now.

"They pick on people who are not able to defend themselves. We are being tortured."

He said the incident was reported to the police immediately, but it was 23 hours before officers arrived. It was also reported to the community wardens on the estate, but by Tuesday they had still not turned up.

Hazel Quinn, of Raithwaite House, said: "The wardens are hopeless - you never see them."

Mr Richmond added: "The community wardens are a complete waste of time and money. They have a show of force on the high street at lunchtimes, but the rest of the time they are in the community centre drinking tea.

"This area has been classed as a no-go area because they have had stones thrown at them by the gangs.

"We're lucky if we see the police support officers once a month."

Coun Joyce Benbow, Redcar and Cleveland Council cabinet member for community safety, defended the warden scheme.

She said: "Obviously, I would like more wardens, but the Wilton estate is being patrolled quite well with the numbers we have got.

"The wardens patrol the estate on foot, in pairs, every weekday afternoon and in the evenings they go round in a van and get out when necessary.

"I can understand people saying they don't see them because they can't go backwards and forwards, up and down every road several times a day."

Residents gathered at Raithwaite House this week said they would rather see the money that is spent on community wardens and police support officers used to provide adequate CCTV cameras, if that could lead to prosecutions.

"What we need is some prosecutions to act as a deterrent to the others," said one man. "These kids know they can get away with what they are doing. When you threaten them with the police they just laugh and say 'Go and get them, they won't do anything'. The police need to prosecute at least one to show the others they can't get away with it."

Mr Richmond said residents had handed videos they had shot of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour to the police, but no action had been taken.

"We have given them names, addresses, car registrations, but nothing happens," he said.

"The top and bottom of it is nobody wants to help. The wardens, the police, the council, no-one. Mention Wilton Lane and they don't want to know."

A spokesman for Cleveland police said the area was seen as a priority on weekends and that police needed more evidence and witness statements if they were to secure convictions.

She said: "The police and community support officers give this area as much attention as possible, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

"But unless people provide statements and are prepared to go to court to testify, we are unable to bring prosecutions.

"Information has been given by residents in the past, but if the back-up of evidence is not there, we can't go for a prosecution."

A Coast and Country Housing spokeswoman said: "If it is proven that any of our tenants or their families are involved in any anti-social behaviour on the estate, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action against them. That is our stance.