Families say they are being 'terrorised' by a gang of youths hurling lit fireworks at their homes. Police in Bury have issued a dispersal order in response to a spate of anti-social behaviour attacks this week.
The order covers the Fishpool area, near the town centre, for two days and gives police the power to break up groups of people they believe are causing a nuisance or distress. However, neighbours say they are afraid to sleep or leave their own homes.
Shocking footage shows youths hurling the lit fireworks at homes and cars on Wednesday evening. One woman, who asked not to be named, said a firework exploded next to her car, which was parked just yards away from the front door of her home in Wellington Road.
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She has since had an anti-arson letterbox fitted amid fears she could be targeted again. "They've been terrorising the whole of this road," she explained. "It's been really bad."
After hearing the firework go off outside her home, the woman said she and other fed up residents went outside to confront the gang responsible.
"The whole neighbourhood came outside because we're sick of it," she explained. "I had work in the morning but you're afraid to go to sleep.
"It could have caused damage to the car and the house. It's going to end up with somebody being hurt." Zakia Qaiser's home in Wellington Road has also been targeted several times by what she described as 'a bunch of young lads'.
"We've been egged a couple of times," she said. "They just seem to throw them randomly and run off screaming and shouting.
"They're doing it to many people and it's been going on for a couple of weeks. It's not fair.
"You can see it's getting worse day by day. They're getting fireworks in their hands and just throwing them here and there.
"They were just exploding anywhere. They tried to put them under cars.
"They don't care where it's going or what is going to happen. That could hit a child or anybody."
Ms Qaiser said she is now frightened to leave her house in case she or her family is targeted. "We hardly go out now," she said. "We don't feel safe.
"We make sure the windows are closed and I want the letterboxes to be sealed up."
The dispersal order came into force at 2.30pm on Thursday (September 1) and ends at the same time on Saturday. It applies around Gigg Lane, Alfred Street, Heywood Street, Wash Lane, Peel Way, Jubilee Way and Manchester Road.
In a post on the GMP Bury North Facebook page on Friday morning, officers revealed they had 'identified the individual supplying the fireworks' and made an arrest. While residents welcomed the action taken by police, some called for an increased presence in the area in the long-term.
"We're coming towards November and it's the time when everyone is doing fireworks," one woman said. "They should have more patrols around this area.
"We've lived here all our lives. It's normally a very quiet area and we don't have these kind of issues."
On Thursday, Redvales councillor Tamoor Tariq said the last few nights had been 'among the worst' he had ever known in the area.
He added: "The significant levels of ASB, with the use of fireworks being thrown at properties and passing cars, around Wellington Road, Grosvenor Street and Parkhills Road is completely unacceptable.
"For the last two nights I have been with residents past midnight out on the streets trying to provide support and reassurance. It is the right move by GMP to issue dispersal orders, there are many vulnerable families often with young children who are now frightened in their own homes.
"This sort of lawlessness with fireworks being launched at vehicles and properties should not be tolerated, and those involved should feel the full force of the law. I would encourage everyone to continue to report things to the police."
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