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Teenage girl gangs armed with knives have been roaming the streets of North Belfast, police have said.

Emergency response officers were sent to the Antrim Road area last night after reports to police from frightened residents.

No arrests were made and no injuries reported.

It was the latest incident involving young people in the north of the city with police urging parents to do more before somebody is killed.

A senior PSNI officer said: "Police responding to reports of large groups of young females in area carrying offensive weapons including knives in area of Antrim Road and waterworks.

"This is a serious matter and could lead to death or serious injury. How many warnings will it take to stop this behaviour?"

Parents told of their horror at the ongoing problems.

One said: "Disgraceful they will end up killing someone and ruining the life of the person's family not to mention their own family and they will say I didn't mean to kill them well.

"Unfortunately that's what happens when you choose to carry a knife, silly wee girls."

Another said: "My eldest daughter is coming eight and this frightens the life out of me, not because she will be involved in this sort of thing but because she will probably come up against it.

"It's so scary. I want to protect her so much but I know I can't. It's a horrible world we live in."

Earlier this month police sent letters to the parents of 30 teenagers in North Belfast about their children's bad behaviour over Easter.

Officers in the Ardoyne and Oldpark area have dealt with an increased reports of anti-social behaviour in recent months with a huge surge in crowds of young youths gathering and terrorising residents.

In particular officers have expressed concern about young girls they have had to help who were so drunk they could barely walk.

The PSNI in North Belfast said there were ongoing problems with teens gathering in the Bone Hill on the Oldpark Road which has lead to numerous fights and vandalism to the cars and property of residents.