Tearaway youths accused of terrorising their Grange Moor community are to right their wrongs by carrying out good deeds.

More than 100 people packed the Grange Moor pub on Monday night for a community meeting to address concerns over criminal damage and anti-social behaviour by a group of known youths.

The meeting was called by resident Mark Jones after as series of shocking incidents around Bedford Avenue and Back Lane over the past five years.

He told residents he wanted to draw a line under what has happened and ‘wipe the slate clean’ to give those responsible ‘one last chance’.

He called for weekly community meetings and for the youngsters, who bravely voluntarily attended the meeting, to take part in repair the damage they have caused to the community.

Mr Jones said after the meeting: “It was a very positive meeting.

“Basically we have agreed to wipe the slate clean now and the teens are doing gardening jobs to pay back for the damage they have done.”

Nikki Hussain, who runs Grange Moor Off-licence, added: “A lot of residents have issues with what’s gone on. We all need to work together to address things.

“Lots of my customers have told me about the vandalism which has gone on.

“We need to engage with these people.”

Resident Malcolm Smith, 75, said: “I’ve lived in Grange Moor all my life. It is up to the parents of these children to sort it out. I don’t think the community can solve it.”

The meeting comes after two cars were spray-painted on Saturday.

Other recent allegations include that children poured diesel on an 84-year-old’s driveway and tried to set it on fire and that they tied a rope between lampposts on Back Lane in a bid to cause a road accident.