A TERRIFIED family were yesterday stoned as they fled their Newport home - driven out by yobs who have made their lives a misery.

Mum-of four Tracey Betts moved out of her Malpas home after suffering months of abuse.

At the weekend it became too much - and she decided to leave the Oliphant Circle house where she has lived for more than three years.

But as she finally moved out yesterday, police had to be called as she and an Argus photographer were pelted with stones by a gang of young thugs.

Mrs Betts says two teenage thugs are behind the attacks - smashing her car and house windows and threatening her and her children.

"I have been driven out of my house by two youths, who are the main instigators," she said.

"Since December I have been a prisoner in my own home, I can't go out without being abused and threatened.

"On Saturday I had three windows put through, bricks thrown at my car and the fitters trying to fit my windows got egged.

"I couldn't take it anymore and I packed my house up in 24 hours and got the hell out of there for the safety of my children.

"The police and the council don't do anything - and even when they do the courts let them walk free."

Mrs Betts said she needed a police escort to go and collect some belongings on Sunday.

She added: "All we get off the police is that each incident is another nail in the coffin for their anti-social behaviour order but if we hadn't have got out, the coffin would have been mine or my kids."

A spokeswoman for Newport city council said: "We have been in discussion with Ms Betts for some time with regard to her housing situation.

"We have been sympathetic and these discussions have included the possibility of a transfer to another property within Newport.

"However until yesterday (Mon) she has expressed a wish to move outside the city.

"Ms Betts has now asked the authority to consider a priority transfer to another property within Newport."

Neighbour Dianne Bullock added: "It's like Beirut."

She added locals were trying to get an Anti-Social Behaviour Order imposed on the youths.