VILLAGERS, plagued by a rampaging gang, have had enough.

The last straw was the terrifying intimidation of two community wardens who had interrupted a wrecking raid on the New Marske allotments on Tuesday of last week.

The women who were on patrol were met by the gang of about 40 youths. Their questions were drowned out and they were spat upon. They managed to climb back into their van and phoned the police.

Their van was surrounded and took a hammering until they managed to find a path clear.

Three days later, last Friday, the gang struck again. Villagers dread Fridays as the gang seems to be especially active.

Allotments secretary, Bob Lawton, told the D&S Times that the gang had done untold damage with greenhouses and sheds smashed and gates left hanging from their hinges.

Worst, however, was the calculated smashing of a 6ft concrete wall around the allotment which left slabs hanging.

He and other residents and association members had phoned the police.

"The police told me later they had found young members of the gang lying in drunken stupors in back streets near the allotments and arrests had apparently been made.

"The gang seems to be made up of boys and girls aged between eight and 14. I am told that the ring leader is about 16. It is mainly local youngsters but it is known that they are being supported by others from Marske and Middlesbrough.

"It must have been a terrifying experience for these two wardens."

The allotments are considered to be the best in the parish because they are situated in the front of the village and surrounded by houses.

Coun Jim Wingham, chairman of the Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council allotments committee, said he was appalled by the amount of damage that had been done and even more appalled by the lack of response by the police when the wardens had reported the trouble."

At a meeting at New Marske on Wednesday, along with Mr Lawton and some of the 61 allotment members, he said he would take up the whole affair with Supt John Kelly of Langbaurgh police division, who, with several other senior officers, is attending a meeting of the parish council on December 9.

"The New Marske situation is getting out of hand," he said. "The villagers say enough is enough. They want a crack down and hopefully, Supt Kelly will produce the answer, which he has done in the past for this parish."