CHILDREN playing dangerously on the canalside have been shouting abuse at people living nearby.

Tom Neale, who lives next to Bilford top lock, claims to have been sworn at by a group of children outside his home after he warned them against jumping over the lock. 

He said: "We have a narrowboat and had brought it down from Tibberton, where it normally lives, to keep it outside of the house.

"It was tied up and come end of school time we saw kids leaning over our wall in our garden and we could see them at the lock gates being silly.

"I went out and filmed them so they were shouting at me that I was a paedophile and answering back.

"They were only about 12.

"I was trying to explain that it is dangerous and they just kept swearing back at me saying they were not doing anything dangerous.

"They kept saying they could swear at me and that swearing wasn't bad but I told them that they were offending people walking past with young children.

"They offended my wife. 

"I phoned the local school and they carried on being cheeky in front of me while I was on the phone.

"The school asked me to film it and take photos to show to them."

Mr Neale has a doorcam outside of his house that is able to pick up footage of anyone messing around at Bilford top lock.

He has contacted Tudor Grange Academy which has asked him to go in and identify the children concerned in the incidents. 

Mr Neale added: "I have spoken to the Canal and River Trust and they will be running two water safety open weekends in the summer.

"I saw them one day walking across a tiny ledge across the canal, it's got to be 14 feet in the air. 

"I get lots of people say to me 'we all did that' and 'it's just kids having fun# but you have to draw the line.

"It's about safety."

Worcester News has contacted Tudor Grange Academy and West Mercia Police for a comment.