FRIGHTENED residents in a Worcestershire village fear a gang of teenagers has set up a drugs den just yards from their homes.

They say the group of around 25 teenagers have started fires, damaged trees and even chased them away.

Police have played down the concerns after finding no evidence that the youths, who have built a den in a wood beside Dilmore Lane, Fernhill Heath, are using drugs.

"It's unnerving and frightening and it's destroying what was once a quiet village," said a 34-year-old, who asked not to be named. "You can't sit in your garden because their den is so close, and I don't let my kids play in the field because you don't know what they're going to find.

"I feel like moving, but I think 'why should they force us out?'"

The father-of-two claims to have found beer cans, lighters, silver paper and plastic bottles with their base cut off in the den, just 10 yards from the nearest houses.

Two residents were also chased across fields by the youths near their homes last Friday.

"We had to scramble over a barbed wire fence to escape them and I cut my hand," said a 22-year-old from the area, who also wanted to remain anonymous.

"I've seen the lighters and cigarette papers, and it's quite obvious that 18 and 19-year-olds don't just build dens for fun nowadays."

The police were contacted about the youths seven times last week and residents have written to parish and district councillors - the last letter including a 15-name petition, with around 15 more signatures to come.

"We have the identities of all the young people who gather there," a police spokesman said. "We don't believe - and there's no evidence to suggest - that they're smoking or taking drugs.

"These youngsters have gravitated towards this area to meet and socialise because they have nowhere else to go and we believe that, while they may be a little noisy from time to time, there are no other concerns."