YOBS terrorising people living in a Dorset village are being ignored by the police.

That is the claim of the parish council chairman who is warning that Crossways residents may soon start taking the law into their own hands to deal with the youths.

Bob Russell says villagers are angry because a small group of teenagers is making life a misery for a lot of people.

His comments come after a police armed response vehicle was called and two youths were arrested following an incident in which an airgun was fired at a 16-year-old girl.

Mr Russell said: "Just last week two residents were threatened by teenagers with a large knife.

"There have been lots of things like this. In the last year there have been two airgun incidents, smashed bus shelters, vandalised play areas, people running all over the roof of the doctor's surgery, slashed tyres, cars set on fire and thefts.

"It just goes on and on. The people responsible are taken to the police station and five minutes later they are back out on the streets.

"Everyone in the village has had enough. How much longer before they take matters into their own hands?"

Now Mr Russell says the parish council is writing to Dorset Police chief constable Jane Stichbury to ask her to intervene.

He said: "The police here say there isn't a problem, but there is. The village is going bad and something needs to be done."

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester police said his officers had dealt with every incident that had been reported and there were no problems in Crossways.

He said: "There is one individual who has come to our notice and one person does not constitute a problem.

"We have taken the initiative to deal positively with matters, which is what the people of Crossways want.

"We have consistently taken positive action, hence the police response to the incident involving the airgun."

Inspector Fry said he had not ruled out the use of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order to deal with the known troublemaker and was constantly monitoring the situation to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Crossways district councillor Daniel Smy said the vast majority of people living in the village were decent, but a small minority were causing trouble.

He said: "There is nothing worse for the law-abiding residents of Crossways than to have to suffer the inconvenience and worry caused by the actions of a few.

"Clearly we need to take seriously this outbreak of anti-social behaviour and as the local councillor I shall be speaking to Inspector Fry and to the anti-social behaviour unit to see what can be done to resolve these issues."