BATTLING grandad Frank Hayman has challenged his neighbours to wage war on the louts who are ruining his area.

The 61-year-old wants frightened local people to stand up to the yobs, who he says are turning the neighbourhood into a mini Moss Side.

And he hopes neighbours in the Paulhan Street area of Great Lever will band together to sue the council, who he accuses of housing problem families.

The fed-up father-of-three decided to speak out after youths gathered outside his neat terraced house this week and threatened his family because he reported a burglary to police.

The mob menaced Frank, his wife Margaret, 56, daughter Janet, 31, and son Neil, 23, after he spotted two youths taking away a central heating boiler in a wheelie bin.

The family say they suffer constant threats and abuse and their car has been vandalised by yobs who have branded Frank "a grass".

But he is determined not to let the culprits win and said: "Ninety five per cent of the people here are decent but there a few families who spoil it for everyone.

"Twenty years ago you had to put your name down to get a house on the estate but now it's as bad as Moss Side. It's so bad I'm ashamed to invite friends round to visit.

"We cannot let them get away with it any more - if we stick together we can force them out. I am also taking legal advice on taking the council to court because it's their tenants who have downgraded my property."

Frank says the police do what they can but are hampered by a "soft" court system and witnesses who are too frightened to speak out.

He wants anyone interested in forming an action group to contact him at 180 Paulhan Street.

"They have already terrorised one old lady out of her house and everyone lets them get away with it. People cannot go on shutting their curtains at night and pretending it isn't happening," he said.

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