GANGS of yobs have been terrorising a Great Sutton off-licence, laying siege to its staff and customers for six weeks.

Workers at Port Wines on Hope Farm Road have described how an intimidating throng of about 30 youths has been gathering outside the shop from 6pm every night, causing misery for them and residents.

Fireworks have been lit and thrown at terrified staff, who are frequently trapped inside by the youths after they pull down the shutters outside.

The thugs, who staff say are between 14 and 17, have threatened to burn down the off-licence and customers are having to be locked in the shop for their own protection.

Manager Sue Challinor is regularly verbally abused by the nuisance youths, whom she describes as 'vicious'.

Miss Challinor, who has worked in off-licences for more than 20 years, is now backing her staff in their vow to reclaim the area.

She said: 'It's a nightmare - every time the phone rings at night I am frightened to death of what's happened to one of my staff.

'It's like the youths know they can't be touched, there is no fear. I am having to employ an extra member of staff to stand on the door and let genuine customers in and out.'

Tensions exploded two weeks ago when a large group of youths threw bricks and bottles at customers leaving a neighbouring pub.

Twenty smashed bottles, six bricks and two panes of glass littered the streets following the incident, in which a member of bar staff was also attacked.

Ellesmere Port police's response to the troublemaking has been described as slow or non-existent.

Chief Inspector Barry Travis said: 'We are aware of the situation in the Hope Farm area and in policing terms it is classed as a 'target area'. Our staff spend as much time up there as possible but that has to be balanced by the demands in other areas.

'We are doing things behind the scenes, such as gathering evidence to identify the ringleaders in a bid to gain anti-social behavioural orders, but these things take time. All these kids have got parents and it's their responsibility to look after them and know where they are going and what they are doing.

'It's not good enough to allow your kids to wander the streets, people's lives are being affected.'

Fed-up staff are being supported by Cllr Ian Ormerod (Labour, Strawberry Fields), who has received 'countless' complaints.

He said: 'At this point my residents feel like second-rate citizens. They are too afraid to go out after dark. I will help my residents 100% and endeavour to improve their quality of life.

'New powers have been granted by central government in respect of anti-social behaviour and I will continue to work with Cheshire police to ensure my residents can return to a normal way of life.'