A BOOZED-UP gang of teenagers left a senior citizen from Greenock shaken after confronting her at a public park.

Ivy Siegfried, secretary of Cowdenknowes Residents’ Association, was confronted by yobs near the Model Boat Club at Murdieston Dam.

The 80-year-old had gone for a walk and had become breathless after forgetting her inhaler.

She was about to ring her friend when the intimidating group suddenly accosted her.

She said: “I had my mobile phone in my hand and the next thing there were about 12 or 14 of them, boys and girls, mostly girls aged about 14 and 16.

“One of the boys was younger and they were all drinking.

“They said: ‘are you calling the cops?’

“I told them that I had asthma and I needed my inhaler, so I was calling my friend.”

Ivy said that a number of the youths then followed her along the path despite her pleas to be left alone and phone her friend.

She said: “I told them I was calling my friend and they said, ‘you better not be calling the cops’.

“I was shaken and out of breath.

“They’re so brazen.

“I couldn’t get away quickly enough.

“I didn’t want to show them that I was scared.”

Ivy said she reported the incident to the police but has since heard of a similar incident involving another woman.

She told the Tele: “She told me there were around 70 of them gathered, aged between 14 and 16, and it was the same scenario as what happened to me.

“They were asking her if she was calling the police on them.”

The incidents come as vandals have also caused damage to a new bench recently installed at Murdieston Dam.

A bench recently put in place by the residents’ association through a grant from River Clyde Homes was uprooted and thrown down the embankment.

Iain Freer, vice-chair of the residents’ association, condemned the vandals who ripped out the seat.

He said: “This really is an absolute disgrace.

“They don’t appear to appreciate what people are trying to do for the community.

“This bench was put in there for the benefit of the public and they think they can come along and do that.”

Sergeant Kayley Teasdale of Greenock police said: “I can confirm that these incidents have been reported and enquiries are ongoing with the neighbourhood team for that area.”