GANGS of up to 50 youths are making life hell for people in a Gwent village - and some residents say it is turning into a 'no go' area.

Police in Pontypool are inundated with calls from people living in Pontnewynydd who are afraid to go out of their homes because of yobbish behaviour.

Last weekend alone, police dealt with 11 incidents in the area. These included stones and bottles being thrown at passing cars, vandalism at the local Methodist chapel - which had all its windows broken - groups of drunken yobs fighting in the streets, and damage to peoples' property.

PC Andy Cleaton, crime and disorder reduction officer for Pontypool, admitted Pontnewynydd was now an anti-social behaviour 'hotspot'.

And, the Argus can reveal, Torfaen council's community safety partnership is preparing to take out six anti-social behaviour orders - four targeting youths living in the area, and two involving youths from outside. Pontnewynydd councillor Joyce Gregory said gangs of up to 50 youths were congregating in the area and drinking alcohol.

She said: "To say it is a hotspot is an understatement. My neighbour moved here several years ago because it was so nice. She said it has gone downhill so fast it's frightening.

"There are people living here who are afraid to go out. "We need more police on the beat. I don't think ASBOs will help. That's like putting the fire out after it has started. They have got to start from the root cause. Do the parents know what their children are doing?"

Snatchwood Councillor Ivor Davies said he was "disgusted" at the situation. He said: "It is getting to be a no-go area, and it's got a hell of a lot worse recently.

"You get huge gangs of kids hanging round drinking and having fights with each other. A lot of elderly people are afraid to go out. I think there should be a curfew."

Dave Jeremiah, Torfaen council's community safety manager, called the problem "enormous".

"The community is in crisis over these issues," he said. "In other areas, people have come forward with names, but in Pontnewynydd people don't seem to have the confidence to do this.

"Residents are at the end of their tether and we are taking the situation very seriously."

He said dispersal orders in Trevethin were moving gangs into Pontnewynydd.