Dozens of youngsters had a knock on the door from police as tensions between gangs of teenagers in Kent continue to simmer.

Officers received a tip off about a planned brawl involving up to 150 teenagers from across Herne Bay and parts of Thanet at Herne Bay station.

On the night last month, knuckle dusters and baseball bats were confiscated and police took down details of ringleaders.

But the 50 home visits this week were an attempt to quash the chance of the fight simply being rearranged. Letters have been sent to a further 20 teenagers.

Insp Gordon Etheridge said: "The purpose of the visits was to warn the young people that this sort of public disorder could end up in serious injury, and to advise parents what their children were up to and encourage them to take more responsibility for knowing what they are doing when they are out in town."

The news comes just a couple of weeks after mobile phone footage was released of a brutal attack on a Rainham teenager last summer.

The images of Jack Blanchard, 13, suffering kicks to the head from a 14-year-old as he lay on the ground provoked outrage from our readers.

~ Related article: Opinion split over vicious attack footage >>>

One comment left on KentOnline read: "This is disturbing news that's occurring throughout the country where young people are involved in gangs, intimidations and vandalism.

"The biggest fault of all is bad parenting. Parents no longer put any effort and time to instil the most fundamental requirement...to know what's right from wrong."

Another said: "Gang violence is silly and nothing is gained from it, except a reputation that stops you from entering other parts of the local area. You get nothing from it and what you get back is being arrested and a ruined life.

"All of the gangs are not worth it. What makes someone cool by a incident like this?"

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