TEENAGERS who barricaded children in a scout hut while terrorising them from outside have been warned someone could have been killed.

Scout leaders said a fire at the 1st Leadgate group’s headquarters could have been fatal for the youngsters trapped inside.

Five teenagers blocked the doors of the building on Watling Street in Consett on Thursday evening.

They were blasted in a post on the group's Facebook page, which described their behaviour as ‘completely unacceptable and dangerous’.

The post said: “As if banging on the doors, shouting and screaming at leaders, throwing stones at the doors and vandalising the plants and work of the children outside was not enough, they saw fit to barricade the door and fire exit at the front of the building, making it impossible for anyone inside to get out that way if they needed to.

“They did this knowing there were people in the building.

“I hope they realise that barricading one of the two doors in a building that has no windows could have had potentially fatal consequences had there been a fire at one end of the building, as everyone inside would have been trapped.”

Scout leaders are now urging parents to control of their children.

The post said: “If this was one of your teenagers or you know who it was, please have a word with them.

“Our volunteers give freely of their time to provide a group for Leadgate and neither they, our youth members, or the Leadgate community (who are extremely supportive of the group) deserve this kind of treatment.

“Our District Commissioner would be more than happy to speak to any of the individuals involved if they would like to learn more about our core values of integrity, respect, care, belief and co-operation.”

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Police have confirmed they have been informed.

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: “Officers were called to reports of a youths causing a nuisance in Watling Street, Consett, at around 7.30pm on Thursday.

“Officers attended and searched the area but no suspects were found.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

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