Old people are "scared to leave their homes" according to residents in a village where gangs of youths with fireworks have taken over.
Woolton Village, a leafy suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside is being overrun by 'marauding and intimidating' young people according to locals.
Police have introduced dispersal zones and some 22 young people have been given anti-social behaviour warnings and told to stay away from the village, Liverpool Echo reports.
Residents have described the area as like 'living in Dodge City' as they told how they've had items thrown at their windows and had been 'assaulted' by the unruly youths.
Professor John Ashton, a former regional public health director, who lives in the village, said: "Last weekend hit a new low for the quality of life for those of us living in the heart of our beautiful village.
"We have long been accustomed to late night drunkenness from the inappropriate issuing of late alcohol licences locally, the antisocial parking on double yellow lines and pavements, and the proliferation of fast food outlets producing an epidemic of litter.
"However the increasing problem of listless young people marauding the streets, dominating the pavements with bikes and generally intimidating older and more vulnerable people has now hit a crescendo with fireworks added to the mix."
He added: "My heart bleeds for what Woolton Village has now become, at times it feels like Concert Square. There is a large proportion of older people living in the village and some of them are scared to leave their homes at the moment."
Concert Square is a melting pot of bars and restaurants in the city centre which attracts thousands of students, revellers and tourists alike for a night of boozing.
The area has become associated with debauchery after a couple were caught on camera performing a 'sex act' in the square in August.
Now Professor Ashton has been delivering letters to residents in the village asking for their views on the current situation and asking them to contact local councillors and police about the issues.
One described living in Woolton Village like 'living in Dodge City.'
Another resident said he had been recently assaulted by a group of youths who he had challenged for setting off fireworks and verbally abusing people in the village.
Another claimed he recently had items thrown at his front windows by a gang of young people.
Following a weekend of further dispersal action, local police have branded the behaviour of the youths as completely unacceptable.
Community Policing Inspector Neil Birkett said: "Recently we have been dealing with further incidents in this area, including youths congregating in large groups and intimidating people and using fireworks in Camp Hill Park and in the village.
The scenes witnessed last weekend were completely unacceptable. We know the distress that such reckless behaviour can cause, and the risk it carries to people in the street, so we’re committed to using all available powers to take action."
A number of issues have been raised with local councillors who say they share the concerns of residents.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Malcolm Kelly said the councillors have been working with police to introduce dispersal zones in the village.
These are special powers that allow police to move on people gathering in groups of more than two where anti-social behaviour is taking place and to take the names and addresses of the youths.
He said: "You will be aware of the incidents of anti-social behaviour that is taking place in the Village. We share the concerns of local residents and have been working with various agencies to try to eradicate this problem."
He urged more residents to report problems directly to the police and claimed some businesses have been investigated for the sale of illicit vaping liquids and drug-related paraphernalia.
Other businesses have been given advice about selling to underage customers and will be subject to undercover checks.
He urged people to come forward with any information about the sale of fireworks to underage customers ahead of Bonfire Night.
