Feral youths are driving hard-working homeowners out of their houses in a campaign of harassment and fear, it is claimed. Locals living in Ordsall Park in Salford say groups of around 20 youths are often causing a nuisance in the area.
And they are living in fear with Bonfire Night coming up after fireworks were hurled down the street last year, narrowly missing houses and cars in the street, a stone’s throw from the famous Salford Lad’s Club, which featured on The Smith’s 1986 album The Queen is Dead.
Many people lock themselves in of an evening and a number of residents say they are considering leaving their homes and moving elsewhere. One said: “We’ve been getting harassed on this street for most of this year. Someone is going to get hurt.”
Earlier this month, police issued three Facebook posts in six days about troublesome behaviour in the area. Officers slapped a 48-hour dispersal order on Ordsall after a ‘large group of youths engaged in anti-social behaviour’ for two consecutive nights.
Days later, Bobbies were back in the neighbourhood, investigating ‘the misuse of fireworks, criminal damage and bin fires’ in Ordsall Park. Two arrests were made, other youths were identified and neighbours were urged to come forward with any concerns they had.
A concerned local told the Manchester Evening News: “It started off with them just setting off fireworks normally. Then they started firing them at each other. Then at other people. They were setting bins on fire or putting fireworks into the bins.
“I think for most of us round here, if they want to be stupid and throw fireworks at each other, whatever. But if they are throwing it at other people, that’s another matter.
“The fire brigade had to come out a couple of times to put it out. I’ve spoken to the police, they’ve been round. I think they are doing what they can but there’s not many of them to police it.”
The man, who wishes to stay anonymous, fears someone will end up ‘getting blinded or killed’ by a youth hurling a firework. He was forced to intervene recently when a firework was thrown towards someone pushing a double pram.
He raged: “It missed them by about five feet. I went absolutely ballistic. Throwing fireworks at innocent kids? That’s not OK. That’s when I think the police really stepped it up.”
Locals in Hulton Street last say the issue had calmed down a bit since Greater Manchester Police stepped up its efforts at the start of the month. But they weren’t confident that the problem would have been entirely resolved.
One couple told how the yobs try to ‘crush’ them with their bicycles as they head between the park and their home. The female partner said: “I lock the door after running in. Sometimes they surround [her partner] with sticks from trees. They are very annoying.”
The pair said the issue had been ongoing since they first moved into the house in June 2025, but the recent incidents of fireworks being ‘thrown in people’s faces’ had taken their concerns to new heights.
She added: “All of us try to avoid the fireworks, we go from side to side when walking.” Asked if the couple were scared, she replied: “Absolutely. Fireworks can burn the skin. I hope the police can do something, it’s very annoying.”