A FURIOUS Newport Harriers official is threatening to take the law into his own hands to protect the club's young athletes from gangs of stone-throwing yobs.

In recent weeks athletes and coaches at the club have come under repeated attack during training and competitions at the Newport Stadium in Spytty by the teenage gangs.

The problem reached a crisis point on Saturday when the Wales Junior Athletics meeting was held up after stones rained down on competitors taking part in the long jump competition.

Club secretary Richie Jenkins said hundreds of youngsters from across Wales and their parents witnessed the attacks and it had left them with a poor impression of Newport.

He said: "Enough is enough. If I have to take the law into my own hands then so be it. Are we to wait until a serious accident occurs before action is taken?

"If I have to act I will. People say you cannot lay a hand on youngsters these days. Everybody is afraid to do something.

"If that ends up with me in court then I will have my day in court and blow this thing open. I am really annoyed about the lack of response to this from the police."

PC Sally Jackson, from Maindee police station, said: "We are taking these matters very seriously and would appeal for anyone who knows the identity of those youths responsible to contact us."

The incident was the latest in a series of ongoing problems with vandals targeting the Newport Stadium.

Last Thursday, one of the Harriers' coaches was struck by a stone during a training session.

And last month, the Argus reported how an arson attack on a pole vault crash mat was set to cost up to £30,000 to replace.

Mr Jenkins said: "There were hundreds of children with their parents here from across Wales on Saturday.

"It is supposed to be this International Sports Village, but what must their parents think about Newport after this?

"All it would need is for some police officers to patrol the area regularly. The precept has gone up but we only want an officer to come around now and again and the problem would disappear."

If you have any information contact Maindee Police on 01633 838111.