RESIDENTS of a neighbourhood overrun with drug dealers, underage drinkers and joy-riders yesterday criticised police and councillors for failing to clean up the area.

The atmosphere at a public meeting in Middlesbrough was so heated that a 63-year-old man, forcibly complaining about yobs in his street, had to be removed by police, and another elderly man walked out in disgust.

Those that remained - about 30 residents from Fleetham Street and Kingston Street - told Middlesbrough Council's executive member for law and order, Councillor Barry Coppinger, that they were scared to leave their homes because of aggressive youths running riot.

They claim that two sites, a derelict school on Fleetham Street and a park on Kingston Street, are hotbeds of illegal activity for youngsters.

One said: "We have had enough. I have only been here for six weeks and twice I have had my head kicked in."

Another asked Coun Coppinger: "Could you give the residents some idea of when they are going to get peace and quiet? We have got residents who are scared to come out of their own houses. Something has to be done today."

The residents - who did not wish to be named - are fed up with youths racing stolen cars along the streets, off-licences selling drink to underage teenagers and drug dealing.

"There's going to be another Leigh-Ann Johns situation where a car hits a kid," said the father of an 11-year-old.

Another man said the numerous boarded-up houses were attracting rats. "It was a lovely area and now you walk down it and it looks like Beirut," he said.

Coun Coppinger acknowledged that problems in the area were a "major headache" but said the council was working with police to tackle it.

Enforcement officer Malcolm Grey told residents they needed to keep a record of incidents so the council could apply for anti-social behaviour orders to be placed on persistent troublemakers.

"To speak in Middlesbrough's language, give us the bullets and we'll fire the gun." he said.