The Glider passing the interface between the Suffolk Estate and Lenadoon Picture Mal McCann.

Children as young as 11 are using the Glider service to transport them to a west Belfast interface to launch sectarian attacks on residents of the small Suffolk estate.

Local people say since the start of the summer holidays they have been subjected to nightly attacks by gangs of young people who gather on the nationalist side of the interface.

Suffolk is a small, mainly unionist estate of around 300 occupied homes.

Despite the interface facing Woodbourne Police Station, residents say they feel abandoned and are worried that someone is going to be "seriously hurt or killed" if steps are not taken to prevent the nightly violence.

In recent days among those targeted by the youths was a pensioner in her seventies and a teenage boy who suffers from autism.

While some of the young people involved in the attacks are believed to be local the majority are arriving daily via the Glider service from other areas. It has been suggested that the teenagers don't pay for using the bus which is subject only to random checks.

Residents say the young people, who are attacking homes and abusing elderly residents, are leaving for home on the last Glider service at around 11pm each evening.

Mother-of-two Kirsty McCormic said: "I have an eight-year-old and five-year-old who are asking what the fighting is about, they are asking what sectarian words mean, words they wouldn't know or hear otherwise."

"We're constantly phoning police, the ones responsible are standing right beside the station, the police can see them.

"If I try and use the shop on the Stewartstown Road I'm having abuse and stones thrown at me. I can't even be terrified for myself because I've two children to worry about," she added.

Carol Anderson said her teenage son, who is autistic, is a "virtual prisoner in his own home".

"My children go to integrated school, my daughter is involved in cross-community youth work, they weren't brought up with this kind of sectarianism.

"The police should be dealing with this, it shouldn't be left to us every night."

Police said they received two reports of anti-social behaviour in the area on Tuesday night.

PSNI Sergeant Lloyd said: "It was reported that youths were throwing stones in the area, however when officers attended the area the youths had dispersed.

"We are aware of ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour occurring in and around the Stewartstown Road between Lenadoon and the Suffolk Estate recently, because of this we are increasing patrols in the area.

"I would encourage anyone who has been affected by anti-social behaviour to report the matter to police by calling 101 so that we can investigate every incident.

"I would also encourage parents to make sure they know what their children are doing and where they are during the school holidays."