By Liz Fowler

A MONTROSE resident whose children have been terrorised by gangs of stone-throwing youths yesterday hit out at the inability of police to stamp out the problem.

Pieces of stone edging in Chris Page’s garden have been ripped up and hurled at the windows of his home in Tayock Avenue.

In a second successive night of disturbance, he took action and chased the culprits to a food store.

He said, “We were sitting watching TV when they started throwing stones at the house again.

“I chased them away but they just came back and started shouting.

“Then a stone the size of a boulder hit the front door.

“I have two young children aged six and four and they were upstairs in their bedroom crying.

“I called the police, and they did come out.

“I showed them where the youths were hiding and suggested they load them into the back of their van and take them home to their parents.

“But since it was dark and I couldn’t pick out those youngsters who had actually been doing the damage they took no action.

“I was told there was only so much they could do with only four officers on duty.

“We moved here four-and-a-half years ago but have never known anything like the trouble we’ve had here this last week.”

In the latest stone-throwing rampage through the town on Wednesday evening, an elderly man was included among the targets. Several stones were aimed at him in Glenprosen Street.

Miraculously he escaped uninjured though was left badly shaken.

The reign of terror began around 6.30pm, lasting for three hours, and left several properties damaged and passers-by terrified.

Montrose councillor Mark Salmond has now called for a relocation of CCTV to trouble hotspots not currently covered.

He is also demanding to know how many police were on duty at the time and is seeking an urgent meeting with commander of Tayside Police eastern division Chief Superintendent Alan Campbell

The first reported incident on Wednesday was between 6.30pm and 6.45pm when a group threw stones at passing vehicles from the area of Montrose infirmary.

Then at 7.30pm, youths in Newhame road threw stones at a dog in a garden there, injuring the animal. When the owner appeared, the gang targeted him and his property with more stones.

Between 7.55pm and 8.35pm in Glenogil Street, a large group of youths were reported throwing stones at house windows.

Glenprosen Street was the scene of the next attack at around 8.35pm, when stones were launched at the elderly man.

By 8.55pm the problem had moved to Southesk Street where youths again pelted windows.

Finally, at about 9.30pm, a house in Little Nursery had a brick thrown through the glass panel of its front door.

A resident there said he was aware of the disturbance but had not attempted to intervene because of past experience.

He said, “I went out to tackle one of the gangs causing trouble not so long ago. There were two girls and about a dozen boys.

“I got dog’s abuse when I asked them to move on. One of the girls spat all over me.”

Councillor Mark Salmond said he was extremely concerned that police had apparently been unable to put a stop to the reign of terror.

He said, “I am going to demand to know how many police officers were on duty at the time and will seek assurance from Chief Superintendent Alan Campbell that there is adequate police cover.”

Calling for a review of the CCTV installations, he said, “In my view, there are blindspots that have to be rectified.”

He added, “The system of cameras in Montrose is currently concentrated in the High Street, but they were put in position some 10 to 15 years ago.

“Things have changed and we now need to look at whether some of the cameras need to be relocated to meet the modern needs of policing in the Montrose area.

“Indeed this might be an opportunity to review the CCTV installations in all the Angus burghs. Angus Council shares the cost of the CCTV systems so I think we have the right to ask for this.”

A police spokesman yesterday confirmed inquiries were continuing into the series of incidents and appealed for information.