FEARS are growing that Worcester is heading for a long summer of escalating teenage crime.

The stark warning comes at the end of a week in which 16-year-old thug Sarah Martin was jailed for four years for leading an attack on a man who went to the aid of a pensioner terrorised by a gang in Warndon.

In the past month, more than 20 youth crimes have been reported in the Evening News - including youngsters using a hedgehog as a football.

In the past week, hooligans have hurled stones at a woman and her dog, and a 50ft conifer tree has been torched in Barbourne.

The windows of an office on Bilford Road, Worcester have also been smashed.

Great-grandmother, Pam Bradley, who saw the attack on the conifer tree near her home, said that skips were set alight last year.

The 69-year-old feared that, during the school holidays, children hanging around Perdiswell Leisure Centre could lead to escalating problems.

"We're worried about the summer because we can see a footbridge from here and we see them walking in gangs." said Mrs Bradley, of Wordsworth Avenue, Worcester.

He said that, at the time of Tuesday's tree fire, she saw two teenage boys, a girl, and six younger children round the conifer.

"They lit a match and, before I could get to the phone, the tree was blazing. Most of it's destroyed. I was petrified. I couldn't speak."

Councillor Gareth Jones, who also saw the fire, said youngsters became more troublesome during the summer.

"When it's lighter, you get longer nights and youngsters play up more," he said. "In the summer, there's a major drinking epidemic on the children's playground by Perdiswell.

"There's been a problem with threatening behaviour and drug-taking in Gheluvelt Park for years and it's now growing worse.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie confirmed that petty fire incidents rose during the summer holidays.

"We find an increase in calls to grass fires started deliberately, and occasional hoax calls," he said.

Police figures revealed that reports on noise nuisance and hoax calls also increased during the school holiday period last summer.

A Worcester police spokesman said the tree fire was being investigated.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 08457 444888, quoting 169c/060503.