Armed officers deployed to Wixams after teen gang set off fireworks directly at properties

So much so, armed officers were deployed to the area.

In a post on social media, one woman said “hundreds of teenagers” were swarming houses, “waving knives and machetes, throwing fireworks into people's gardens, putting young children and babies in danger, threatening to kill and stab”.

She wrote: “This is no joke, I have children traumatised as well as a dog because they chucked fireworks at her in the garden, as well as scary children through a window waving knives.”

Police confirmed shortly before 9pm, they were called to Green Lane after reports of a number of teenagers were making threats, with weapons seen by witnesses. Fireworks were also being let off and directed at a property.

Armed officers then attended and carried out a search, but the offenders escaped.

They are described as three males in their late teens, wearing dark clothing. A younger teenage girl was also witnessed to be with the group.

Detective Inspector Ben Searle said: “This was a shocking incident which was caught on phone and CCTV cameras. We understand that footage is circulating online and this is distressing to the community. We do have sight of some of these recordings, and would ask that they are not shared online for operational reasons.

“We are conducting a full investigation into the threats made by the offenders, possession of bladed weapons and affray. We do believe that the target of this incident and the offenders are known to one another. We would urge people not to speculate but to report any information, sightings or suspicious activity from the night of the 31st, so that we can conduct thorough inquiries into the incident.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is urged to contact police online or call 101 quoting the reference 40/64172/26.