POLICE came under attack after being called to a Greenock beauty spot where drunken teenagers are repeatedly running amok and terrorising residents.

Officers swooped at the Murdieston Dam and football pitch to deal with a large-scale gathering of disorderly youths – and were assaulted by yobs.

A number of young people have been reported to the procurator fiscal and children’s panel in the wake of the incident.

The recent flashpoint was followed by more trouble at organised open-air parties on Monday and Tuesday, which residents say have been attended by an influx of around 150 young people.

People living in the surrounding streets say the teens are boozing, blasting out loud rave music, leaving empty bottles all over the park and intimidating residents.

One told the Tele that when community wardens arrived on the scene their van was met with missiles. 

Resident Chris Brindley described the situation facing people in the area as ‘absolutely diabolical’ and says it has left people frightened to leave their homes.

She told the Tele: “You daren’t go out of your house.

“I could see about 30 or 40 of them but I didn’t see the worst of it as most of it was happening at the top dam.

“I was going to go out and tell them to quieten down.

“I saw a police car coming down Columba Street and following them up and down the street and more teenagers further up the road. It was very frightening.”

Another woman who lives near the dam told us she feels ‘under siege’ and is too scared to give her name for fear of reprisals.

She said: “I feel this needs to be highlighted.

“They are all talking to each other on Facebook and meeting up.

“It’s chaos.

“We feel under siege.”

The woman’s husband, 57, added: “There were around 150 of them on Monday night, aged between 14 and 16.

“They arrived about 6.30pm and they had rave music on, they synchronised their phones to play the same music.

“They all had rucksacks and were drinking bottles of wine.

“I called police seven times before they came, they said they they didn’t have enough resources.

“They ended up sending a van down from Govan.

“We have lived here for 28 years and have never had anything like this before.

“It’s getting out of control.

“They’re here every Friday and Saturday night, even throughout the winter.

“They were throwing bottles at the wardens’ van and chucking empty bottles down the embankment.”

His wife, a mum-of-four, said the park was ‘absolutely heaving’ on Monday, the first night of the school February holidays.

She said: “It was like a concert, there was a sea of people.

“Somebody is going to fall into or end up being pushed into the dam.”

Following a repeat performance on Tuesday night police were called out again.

Ivy Siegfried, secretary of Cowdenknowes Residents’ Association, said: “I have been accosted by youths while taking a walk round the dam at 5pm at night. It seems to happen when they are on holiday. Something has got to be done.”

Police say they are set to step up patrols in the area to combat the mass outbreak of anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant Kayley Teasdale said that a number of offences were detected two weekends ago and confirmed police were assaulted, with some of the youths involved in the gatherings reported to the authorities.

She added: “There are still complaints being received at this location of anti-social behaviour by a large group and plans are in place for additional patrols and resources to address this.

“Police Scotland wish to make parents aware and encourage them to know where their children are.”

A council spokesman said: “Our wardens have been working closely with the police to monitor the situation and to take appropriate action when necessary.

“Parents also have a part to play in making sure they know where their children are at night.”