GANGS of youngsters are wreaking havoc on a Valleys village every week, say local traders.

People who work on Oakdale Square said Friday nights practically render it a no-go area for some people who are too terrified to negotiate gatherings of up to 70 or 80 teenagers.

Shopworkers said the youngsters, made up of youths from the village and surrounding towns, are drinking, swearing and smashing shop windows, with some spitting at passers by.

Store supervisor at the Co-Operative, Dan Harding, 24, said: "It's chaotic, people are put off from coming round and with summer approaching it's going to get even worse."

Owner of The Chinese Chiew Yeap, said dozens of youngsters stay in and around the shop for several hours and has had several windows smashed and staff racially abused.

Miss Yeap said some customers say they do not want to come in on these nights because they feel intimidated and estimates this could be costing her up to £1,000 a week.

Deputy manager at the bookmakers, Pat Welsh, said: "It's frightening, no old person will dare venture into the square after 6.30pm. It used to be a nice mining community but now it's gone downhill."

Traders said they would like to see a stronger police presence on Friday nights, including officers on foot patrol.

At the moment, youngsters might disband briefly when police show up, only to return when they have gone.

Gwent Police said they have had three complaints this year from people about youths gathering and anti-social behaviour, so they incorporated the area into their patrols.

Two people, aged 17 and 20 have been given ASBOs banning them from Oakdale Square completely and both were jailed after breaching the conditions of the ASBO.

BLOB: Residents are urged to go to a police surgery at 12pm on April 11 at Oakdale police station to raise any issues they have.

Penmaen councillor Allan Pritchard is meeting Insp Kevin Childs today to discuss the problems people in Oakdale are suffering.

Cllr Pritchard was cleared in November 2007 of obstructing a police officer after he went to the scene of a fight involving youngsters in Oakdale Square on August 4 who had been verbally abusing the family of friend Kenneth Turner.

He held an officer's arm and was arrested and charged, but was cleared by Caerphilly magistrates of any wrongdoing.

He said: "The vast majority of these kids are fine, but we've got a hardcore of about ten or 12 making people's lives a misery, they have a total disregard and disrespect. Local residents have said to me they won't go across the square on Friday evenings and we've just had enough - we just want peace and quite for the community."