Parents have been warned they could be evicted from their council homes unless their children stop "terrorising" elderly people living in sheltered housing.

A gang of youths -- believed to be aged 11 to 14 -- have set fire to dustbins, repeatedly scratched and damaged cars, and smashed flat windows at Cardinal House in Littlemore, Oxford.

The last incident was on Easter Monday, when youths broke into a communal rubbish area and set fire to dustbins at about 6pm.

Firefighters put out the blaze, but residents at the city council flats were left terrified there would be further attacks. Littlemore city councillors Gill Sanders and John Tanner warned "enough was enough" and said that if parents of the children responsible lived in council homes, their tenancies would be revoked unless the problems stopped.

The council's Crime and Nuisance Action Team (CANAcT) confirmed it was planning to take tough action against the culprits, and has the power to evict them and their families.

CANAcT staff are working with police but said they needed more evidence before action was taken.

Jock Morgan, 63, one of the youngest of 80 Cardinal House residents, said: "People really are scared. We see these youths doing these things, but no-one dare approach them.

"My car has been done over three times. They don't steal anything, just smash windscreens and kick dents into the bodywork. This has been going on since the start of the year. The police know about it and Oxford City Council know about it, but we want action now before someone is hurt."

A Cardinal House resident, who declined to be named for fear of retribution, said £19,000 worth of damage had been done to his 4X4 vehicle.

He said: "It was in the garden, locked behind a six foot wall and I've got pictures of the kids."

Phyllis Hutchinson, 86, said: "I'm disabled and don't have a car but if my daughter visits she stands a good chance of having her car vandalised. "We don't want our relatives' cars vandalised just because they have visited to do something for us."

Mrs Sanders said CANAcT was investigating, and several youths had been interviewed and released on police bail.

She said: "Councillors and police officers have held meetings about this, but we have to gather evidence. I understand it's extremely frustrating for residents, but I want to assure them that we will not stand for this kind of behaviour.

"It's totally unacceptable for these children to terrorise people who should be allowed to live in peace and enjoy their retirement. They live in a lovely community and we will not let it be destroyed by these morons.

"The police have a good idea who the offenders are and will deal with them appropriately, but I want to send a very strong message to their parents: 'If you live in council houses and you fail to bring your children under control, you must know your tenancies are being put in jeopardy'."

Mrs Sanders said the council would replace fencing around the residents' car park which was ripped down by youths.

CANAcT manager Steve Kilsby said: "We are prepared to take strong action against the culprits but we do need evidence."

Sgt Ivan Reaney, of the Rose Hill and Littlemore community beat team, said: "The resident's photographs were of four youths running away. Three have been interviewed and we want to interview the fourth.

"We believe the trouble is down to the Cardinal House car park being used as a cut through to Cardinal Close because the fence has been torn down and we've proposed the council mends it. We also want to see better lighting and security in the car park."

He said that since February, 10 antisocial behaviour contracts - legal agreements to keep the peace - were imposed on youths in Littlemore.