Group of 60 attacked pub with fireworks, landlady says
BBCA landlady said she locked customers inside her pub for hours while a group of teenagers attacked it with fireworks.
Salford pub manager Paula, 61, said she and 30 customers hid out as "about 60 teenagers" bombarded The Plough, in Cadishead, on Saturday.
Police were called, and footage from the incident, appearing to show doors being kicked and a bus driver being assaulted, has since been shared on social media.
"It was very scary. I'm worried they will come back," Paula said.
Paula, who has been in charge at The Plough for 10 months, said she had "never seen anything like it", and that she feared the attack was "organised".
"It started with just a few of them," she said. "But more starting coming and then there was 60 of them."
Paula said the teenagers began by targeting "anyone passing" on the main road, including families out trick-or-treating.
Greater Manchester Police Ch Insp Lee Gridley the force "will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in our communities".
"We will relentlessly tackle criminality, disrupt ASB and improve safety for local communities," Gridley said.
Enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible, Greater Manchester Police added.
The landlady said the pub became a target after she refused some teens use of the toilets, having told them children were not allowed in after 19:00.
"They were all bombarding my door, trying to burn all my [Halloween] decorations, firing fireworks at the pub windows, throwing bangers under cars, and no-one could do anything about it.
"There was too many of them."
She said she also saw the group throwing a brick at a bus.
She said she was worried about a potential repeat of the trouble on Bonfire Night.
There was also trouble outside the nearby Coach and Horses pub, which plans to lock its doors on Thursday over concerns for staff and customers' safety.
The manager of the pub told the BBC that last Thursday, there had been "eleven police cars and two vans" out dealing with teenagers causing trouble.
They added: "Police need to be out on patrol because it has just got out of hand."
A resident who gave her name as Sue said about 40 teens had been roaming around near her home on Thursday.
She said she now keeps a bottle of hairspray and her late husband's walking stick to hand to protect herself.
The 73-year-old, who lives alone, said: "They kick my door in at least two or three times a week - not just kicking it - properly booting it.
"They all wear balaclavas and bandanas."
She said she was now wary of going out at night.
"I'm thinking of just selling up and going.
"I've loved this house and the area.
"It is a big community area and all the people get on really well.
"It's just these kids."
Other people to whom the BBC spoke said they had experienced similar trouble, with fireworks being shot at buildings and doors being kicked.
Leonie, 21, who works on the high street, said she was frightened to go to work on Sunday after seeing videos of the gang attacking a bus driver on Saturday night.
"I was worried about going into work," she said. "The shutters are on the inside of the windows.
"It is so scary.
"They all wear black as well so you can't see them."
David Hughes, 77, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years, said: "It's been going on for months and months.
"Groups of them wearing balaclavas and riding round on electric bikes.
"It's intimidating.
"I used to go out to walk the dog in the evening but now when it gets to 17:00 I don't go out because it's not worth it.
"And I don't think I'm the only one."
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