WORRIED residents and councillors are calling for action after reports of gangs of teenagers threatening and terrorising a neighbourhood.

Mother-of-two Colette Lennon said bullying is stopping her son from going outdoors after the latest incident in Woden Avenue, Stanway.

On Saturday, a gang of around a dozen teenagers went to Miss Lennon’s home while she was at work. She said they threatened her ten-year-old son on the doorstep, before trying to get inside to attack her eldest child, Bernard who is 15.

Miss Lennon arrived shortly after the incident to find worried neighbours with her two sons outside the house.

“I have to work on Saturdays but both my boys were indoors,” she said.

“I was just on my way around the corner to my house at around 5pm when I saw the group of around 15 or so kids, on bikes and on foot.

"I carried on to the house and saw two neighbours standing outside the front door to protect my children.

“My ten-year-old had answered the door as he thought it was is friends.

“They were after Bernard and threatened to take our dog when he came to the door.

“My boy wouldn’t let them in and they eventually left.”

Miss Lennon dialled 999 when she heard what had happened, but says Essex Police informed her they could not attend.

The threats came around a month after Bernard was left bruised and battered after a racially aggravated assault near to his home.

Miss Lennon says her faith in Essex Police has been shaken with Bernard targeted on at least four occasions in the past year.

After raising the issue of the latest threats on social media, she received reports of gangs of teens causing trouble across Stanway.

After informing Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell, Colchester Council’s community safety boss Mike Lilley has promised to take the complaint further with Essex Police.

He said: “I have seen an email from councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell who is concerned about gangs in Stanway after reports of bullying.

“I will be raising this at the crime and disorder committee meeting. This is a worrying trend which goes back to the fact if there are less police officers there is more crime.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “This incident relates to an ongoing investigation.

"At the time of the call all local response units were helping in other ongoing incidents.

"The incident has been recorded and will be progressed as part of the overall investigation.”