FIREWORKS were thrown inside a flat and a police officer was threatened with a piece of wood as a group of 30 youths ran amok in Chapelfields this month.

North Yorkshire Police say there were more than 25 reports of anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood, between August 9 and August 16, including arson, drug use, criminal damage and joy riding mopeds and motorcycles.

North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Liberate runs throughout July and is aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour during the summer holidays. Earlier this month, police told the media the operation was “highly successful” and “extremely well received.”

However, in the week after police gave the operation the thumbs up, they were abused by youths, a group climbed onto a school’s roof, a skylight was smashed and residents were left feeling intimidated.

Officers issued a dispersal order at 5pm on Thursday, which will last for 48 hours.

It will cover an area of Bramham Road which includes the junction of Barkston Grove, and another area of Bramham Road which covers Costcutter and the junctions either side of Bramham Avenue.

Inspector Lee Pointon of the York North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the group is causing “desolation and despair.”

He added: “The levels of anti-social behaviour this group are committing is just astonishing and they are causing so much misery amongst the community in Chaplefields.

“Many residents, including the elderly and vulnerable, have felt intimidated, have been verbally abused, and are scared in their own home.

“This is totally unacceptable behaviour.

“These youths are ruining what should be a respectable community enjoying the summer months and school holidays.”