FAMILIES are under siege from a gang of yobs causing havoc in their road. Mindless youths are smashing windows, damaging cars and shouting abuse at residents of Wentworth Drive in Rainham.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "This has been going on for a couple of months now. They congregate at one end of the road, during the day and night, and then walk along throwing bricks at cars and house windows."

The 32-year-old woman has just paid out £400 after the vandals threw a brick through the back window of her car.

An elderly resident, who lives round the corner in neighbouring Elmstone Road, woke up one night to discover a gang of boys lined up outside her house aiming bricks at her living room window. She recalled: "They had thrown one brick but it had hit the wall and I caught them just as they were ready to throw another one at the window.

"There was a whole load of them lined up, facing my house. Even if you do see them during the day you can't look at them without getting a mouthful of verbal."

Another elderly man said: "They look between 13 and 16 years of age and sometimes we see them in their uniform. Some of them are from the Howard School, but if they are playing truant, why aren't the teachers doing anything about it?"

The yobs usually target Wentworth Drive at around 3.30pm during the week or on a Friday night. A Howard School spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem and we are working with the community to try and resolve it.

"A resident is bringing in a tape which we will be looking at but so far we don't know who the culprits are. If we knew we would have done something about it. We don't like this kind of thing happening as it is not good for the school."

One man, who has captured the youths on camera, said: "I have spoken to the police and all they do is ring up with a crime reference number. They did say they would send a patrol car round, but so far, we haven't seen any signs of it."

A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: "We appreciate the concerns of the residents. If people are dissatisfied I would urge them to contact the police and we will look into it."