PEOPLE living in terror on a Flintshire housing estate say loutish behaviour by youths is making their lives hell.

People living on Meadowbank on the Holway Estate in Holywell say windows are repeatedly smashed and stones are thrown at their cars as they run the gauntlet to and from their homes.

They say they are living in fear, plagued by concerns over their safety, and they want police to show a greater presence in the area.

Residents of Meadowbank, off Holway Road, have also appealed for more CCTV to be installed to curb the problems.

Irena Darcka, who has lived in Meadowbank since July last year, said her living room window was damaged last week by a pellet shot from an airgun.

The incident took place overnight on Thursday.

She said: “I’ve no idea why this happened. I believe it was a random attack.

“I don't feel safe at the moment – I’m  fearful it might happen again. It looks like someone took a pot-shot at the window.

“I want to stay in Holywell because I’ve invested money in making a home here, but during the night I don’t feel safe.

“It’s dangerous here but there’s nothing I can do.

“I’m friendly to people when they speak to me and give sweets to children in the street when I see them playing – so I don’t believe I’ve provoked anything to bring trouble on myself.”

Ms Darcka, 50, who moved to the UK from Poland in 2009, said she was also had clothing taken off her washing line and scattered around and bottles have been thrown in her garden.

She said other residents have experienced similar problems, with the next two houses to her both having windows smashed in recent months.

One neighbouring house had holes cut out of windows at the front and back, Mrs Darcka said. Other residents told the Leader of young children running naked in the street and bikes and rubbish often being strewn across the road.

Some of the empty properties remain boarded up and one man, who asked not to be named said: “Stones are thrown at your car and you have to go through hell to get home.

“I’ve lived here for over two years and it has really gone downhill.

“Toys and bikes are left in the middle of the road, dogs run round the streets and it has become a really rough place.

“It isn’t very peaceful, but you don’t see any police here unless you call them out.

“We need more police patrols and CCTV cameras but if people don’t respect the authorities, then it won’t help much. The police need to work with people here.”

North Wales Police did not comment specifically on the policing of Meadowbank or the Holway Estate but encouraged anyone with information about any incidents to contact them on 101, or dial 999 in an emergency.

Tom Davies, head of development and resources at Flintshire Council, said: “The street lighting on the Holway Estate has already been upgraded and this has made the existing CCTV cameras more effective during the hours of darkness.

“There are no plans at this time to increase the number of static cameras, however, North Wales Police do own a number of redeployable cameras which can be utilised in areas suffering from problems such as anti-social behaviour.