FRIGHTENED residents, who say their lives are being ruined by rampaging youths, have called upon Cleveland Police and their MP for help.

Pensioners and their neighbours at Thornaby regularly have their front windows spattered with eggs, mud and tomatoes.

An 86-year-old admitted: "I am scared. It is a frightening experience.''

Young tearaways also cycle across residents' lawns and through flower beds. One resident wants to move out of the area but finds selling his home difficult - because yobs keep uprooting the "for sale" sign.

A retired teacher who lives nearby, said: "I am concerned that living in Thornaby is not getting easier; it's getting more frightening, really.''

Inspector Colin White, the town's police chief and Stockton South Labour MP Dari Taylor now plan to send a joint letter to parents in the area where the trouble arises, appealing to adults to bring their youngsters to heel.

Mrs Taylor said: "People have had enough of these yobs ruining their lives. Playing pranks on people and having a laugh at someone else's expense is simply not acceptable.

"Residents of Thornaby have written to me about eggs thrown at their windows, for sale signs pulled down and dumped elsewhere, and residents intimidated by large groups of young people on the streets at night.

"Insp White and I are here to let people know that they do not have to suffer in silence. I will be writing to all of the residents in this area to ensure they are aware of what can be done.''

Insp White revealed that an anti-social behaviour order against a 14-year-old living nearby is waiting to go before the courts.

He is also encouraging parents or guardians to sign contracts, making them responsible for their children's behaviour.

He said: "It's like a line drawn in the sand. Over that line we will accept no further misconduct. If they cross that line we will go to enforcement. We have powers of arrest.

"In the eight months that I have been at Thornaby, we have issued about 20 contracts and pre contract warning letters. Only two of the 20 have actually breached that contract.'