CHILDREN under the age of ten are terrorising York estates, then bragging the police "cannot touch them", MPs have been told.

The city's MP, Hugh Bayley, called for police and council leaders to make better use of powers to stop youngsters running riot in Tang Hall, Clifton, Foxwood and The Groves.

In a House of Commons debate, he called for more help to go direct to local schools, which do not get targeted support because of their success in education league tables.

He said in the past week one city school - which he did not name - suffered two assaults, a gang fight outside the youth club, threats being made against the site manager by a group of children aged between eight and 13, the head teacher being threatened by intruders, criminal damage, theft, intimidation and threats from unsupportive parents.

The city's problems were sometimes overlooked because of its reputation as a beautiful, historic city.

Mr Bayley said his postbag and surgeries were dominated by problems often caused by just a handful of children. But he said powers were available to deal with them through parenting orders and child safety orders. The MP also complained police were taking too long to respond to antisocial behaviour complaints, suggesting this may be down to "technical problems" at their new communications centre.

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, December 17, 2003