Readers have reacted with fury to the M.E.N’s revelation that children as young as 14 are terrorising a neighbourhood and making residents’ lives hell.

We reported how a gang of up to 40 youths aged between 14 and 17 were carrying out horrific attacks on pets in Clayton , as well as damaging cars, and drinking and shouting abuse in the street.

The close-knit community around Ashton New Road say they have reached desperation point as their nightmare continues, despite more than 50 complaints to police.

Attacks include:

* Fireworks hurled at cats

* Rabbits drowned in oil

* Goslings bricked to death

* Bricks thrown through windows

* One man was stripped in the street by the yobs

* Shouting in the street until 3am

Residents on Ashton New Road, Edge Lane, Seymour Road and Howgill Street claim youths are also shouting and swearing, drinking alcohol on the street, fighting each other in local shops, smashing goods and running along the tops of cars.

Readers have taken to the M.E.N’s Facebook page to voice their disgust with more than 600 comments.

Sarah Glover posted: “Why haven’t they been arrested put them on tag they can’t leave the house then, torturing animals and having people living on their nerves it’s not acceptable scumbags.”

Helen Battersby said: “These aren’t little kids either, they are intimidating teens, they get on the tram, ride for free and return to where they got on, they need prosecuting and if their parents aren’t prepared to control them, they should be fined too, I agree, if they are at school, they should be tagged and on curfew between 7pm till 8.30 am and have to report in school to prove they are there.”

WATCH: Kids terrorise neighbourhood

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Gill Porter wrote: “Disgusting behaviour, parents in that area need to check where their children and what they are up to. I think more police are needed on the street to prevent even worse happening, it can only escalate if something is not done.”

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Carol Anne Jones: “Where are the parents in this? How can the children of those ages be out at that time of night? What about the ‘do gooders’ who stop hard punishments, have they somthing to do with it?

"Youth wasn’t like this in my day, and I’m not that old yet. We were afraid of the police. We knew we could go to them to protect us but I remember being scared to death for being shouted at off a policeman for riding my bike on the pavement with my sister on the back. The yobs just laugh now because they know nothing can be done.”