A PACKED public meeting has heard of more incidents of teenagers terrorising a Worcester housing estate.

More than 70 people turned up to the Warndon Parish Council annual meeting last night to hear what could be done about the teens they say are "ruling" a walkway close to shops and amenities

Residents claim youngsters, who congregate at a gazebo close to Tesco's supermarket, smash windows and street lamps and punch, spit and swear at them as they walk past.

But police say they are powerless to do anything without concrete evidence.

"There is a group of youngsters causing me a lot of problems on the estate," said Warndon beat manager PC John McManus, who added he was "not happy" with the gazebo being on the walkway.

"We know who the ringleaders of the group are but the problem is identifying the perpetrators of specific incidents."

A spate of vandalism on the estate over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend involved windows being smashed at Happylands Nursery and Tesco, and tiles were ripped from the roof of the Lyppard Grange Medical Centre.

Police are still investigating the incidents, which residents say are not isolated cases.

"We've had at least 26 windows smashed at different times," said Happylands Nursery proprietor Carol Pugh.

"In the past 15 months we've reported damage 14 times. The summerhouse has been broken into, planks have been broken off from the fence, paving stones have been taken up and the gate has been broken 10 times.

"But if they did take them to court, what's a warning? It's pointless."

PC McManus assured residents action was being taken, including the removal of concealing bushes and shrubbery around the supermarket. He did not, however, feel CCTV cameras were appropriate as they were "not totally reliable as evidence".

He also said he was "looking at" a purpose-built youth centre for the youngsters.

City councillor for St Martin's ward, Martin Clarke, suggested a working party should be set up, made up of residents, members of the parish and city councils and the police.