GUNFIGHT

A GANG of teenagers firing an airgun terrified "trembling" and "screaming" children as they cowered in a garden - but despite three 999 calls the police didn't turn up until two hours later.

The teenagers, aged around 14, fired from behind a builders' temporary metal storage bay on the Lichfield Avenue-Canterbury Road junction below the shops in Ronkswood, Worcester.

The group of eight young children sought shelter outside Michael Stephen's house on Lichfield Road during the attack.

"These kids were hiding in my garden and behind my car. They were trembling and crying - the police would have heard them screaming down the phone," said an angry Mr Stephens.

Two pellets caused £400 worth of damage to his car. The children were uninjured.

The attack lasted for five minutes just after 6pm on Wednesday.

Mr Stephens dialled 999 at 6.20pm and again at 7.15 but says he was told the police were "too busy".

He added that a third call was made at around 7.45pm. Hhe mentioned guns and the fact that children were involved each time.

"It's absolutely crazy - you just can't get a police officer to come up round here. They seem to think it's Dodge City."

"I thought they would have been straight here as a gun was involved," said the 53-year old.

Police arrived at an empty street corner at around 8.20pm - two hours after the first 999 call, said Mr Stephens.

"One of them said to me: 'What do you want me to do about it? I only had the call 20 minutes ago.'"

Yesterday, Mr Stephens had a CCTV camera fitted to his house.

"I think the chief constable should resign for failing to leave capable people in charge of the police station," said Mr Stephens.

But West Mercia police rejected his accusations.

"Although we received 999 calls, this was not assessed as a Grade 1 firearms response. Based on the information received, it was given a lower grading and we responded well within the required timeframe," said a spokesman.

Anyone with details about the incident should call 08457 444888, quoting 366S 090205.