POLICE and residents have played down allegations that children as young as three are running riot near Prime Minister Tony Blair's North-East home.

It had been claimed that cars and houses were regularly attacked, and elderly people harassed in Trimdon, County Durham.

But bemused residents yesterday said they knew nothing of the trouble, which has led to Newcastle's Home Housing, which rents out half the 200 properties in the area, launching an undercover operation to catch youngsters.

A shop assistant, who did not wish to be named, said: "We have never seen any trouble and have not even heard of anything like this in the area."

Sergeant Neil Edgar, of Newton Aycliffe police, also played down reports of tiny thugs.

"People's perceptions about what is going on in an area are not always the same as what is happening in reality," he said.

"But we will be happy to work alongside Home Housing to see if there is a problem, and would urge anyone who witnesses offences being committed to contact us."

Home Housing's tenancy enforcement officer, Lee Dunn, has been given a video camera and telescopic lens to catch offenders on film.

He said: "If we can prove wilful or criminal damage, we will take the house away from them and prosecute."

There is already a high level of security in the area surrounding Tony Blair's constituency home.

The armed patrols are unable to directly intervene under Home Office regulations and housing bosses are calling for an increased police presence in the area.

Home Housing said it was constantly receiving complaints about children in the area and has urged residents to expose any offenders.

Mr Blair's agent, John Burton, said: "If parents are unable to control their young children and encourage them to live as sensible members of the community, then residents must assist the housing association to remove such tenants from their estate."