A GANG of yobs as young as 10 are frightening community groups, shouting abusive language and bursting into ongoing classes.

Dale Cheesman, manager of the Park Pavilion in Barrack Lane, Dovercourt, said a group of about five or six youngsters have spent the summer holidays loitering around the hall and neighbouring Cliff Park harassing and abusing people including the elderly.

She said: “It’s got worse in the last week. It’s a group of lads and girls, the youngest can only be about 10 or 11 and the oldest 12 or 13.

“The language has been absolutely disgusting.

“I’ve got elderly people going in to Age Concern and they don’t want to hear language like that. We have elderly people from 60 up to 90plus coming in and out one or two times a week.

“They have been going in the hall, sticking their fingers up and things like that.

“It’s hot so we’ve got the doors open and they are shouting obscenities.

“It’s happened at the Age Concern lunch club and the bowls club. The fitness club had to shut the doors because of them.”

Dale said the community hub is not the only place being blighted by the bad behaviour.

She added: “I’ve heard them shouting at people in the park. I’m worried a bit of laddish behaviour is going to go too far.

“They are doing it to be yobbish and laughing about it.”

Dale wrote about the problems on Facebook, hoping anyone who knows those involved can have a word before it turns more serious.

She added: “At the end of the day this is a community centre.

“We are having hassle everyday. This needs to stop.”