VOLUNTEERS who run a York youth club have quit after they were suspended over an incident in which they were attacked by teenage thugs.

Club leaders Wendy Barker and Tracey Cunningham say they were forced to remove a youth from the Moor Lane Centre in Wains Road, Dringhouses, after they were punched and had a metal table thrown at them.

But bosses at City of York Council's youth services have suspended the pair - claiming they responded to the "poor behaviour" in "an entirely inappropriate way". The council's strict youth policies state that no leader can handle youngsters in their care in any way.

But the women, who founded Molys Kitchen youth club more than three years ago to get local teenagers off the streets, say they acted in self-defence to protect their safety and that of younger children.

The drama unfolded when 15 older teenagers gatecrashed the weekly club and flooded the sports hall by turning on a fire hose.

The gang - who were not local - became abusive and threatening when asked to leave, and smashed an air hockey table.

Mrs Barker, who is only 5ft tall, says she grabbed one of the culprits by his coat and forcibly led him from the premises - but did not strike him in any way.

The thugs then returned to the centre and smashed the windows in retaliation.

"I'm very, very angry about the way we've been treated," said Mrs Barker, who was struck on the arm by the metal table.

"I'm not prepared to be slandered. We're trying to keep a good community good.

"The youth of Dringhouses, Woodthorpe and Acomb Park have been wonderful. We've enjoyed seeing them every week.

"However, we are not prepared to stand by and see all our efforts destroyed by violent vandals."

Mrs Barker said the incident was immediately reported to the police.

More than £12,000 has been invested in Molys Kitchen by the local community since it started. It is open to youths from the age of ten every Thursday evening.

Claire Archer, 16, of Woodthorpe, who has attended the club for two years, said she was very disappointed.

"We have to pay for the other club," she said.

"These people are doing it voluntarily."

Anne Smith, chairwoman of Dringhouses West Residents Association, said she "totally disagreed" with the council's action.

"I fully support Wendy and Tracey - we all do," she said.

"I'm hoping the club stays open because it keeps about 40 kids off the street."

Paul Herring, head of the council's youth services, said: "We have a duty of care to the young people attending the youth club and the volunteers running it and this is something we take very seriously.

"A large number of windows were smashed following the initial incident at Molys Kitchen, in what we believe was an act of retaliation.

"The decision to temporarily suspend the youth group was taken both to protect the volunteers and the young people attending the group.

"We hope that Molys Kitchen will be able to reopen as soon as we have completed our investigation into the incident."

Updated: 10:31 Friday, December 19, 2003