GANGS of teenagers running wild have prompted calls for night-time curfews on the streets of Radcliffe.

The teenagers are terrorising traders in Coronation Road with a campaign of vandalism and threats.

Now some business owners say they may shut up shop because of the problems.

A gang of 10 to 18-year-olds, sometimes 30-strong, have targeted the parade of stores for the past 18 months, but in the last three weeks the torment has intensified.

Dave King, aged 47, licensee of the Wilton Arms, has been particularly badly affected.

The youths, who sometimes arm themselves with wooden staves, have smashed toilet windows at the pub, tried to rip ventilator fans from the external wall and attempted to break in through the roof.

Police chief Insp John Higson said the difficulty was catching the culprits in action.