Gangs of youths are making people afraid to live in parts of Oxford. A family was driven from the Rose Hill estate last week after a gang destroyed their house, while youths are preventing elderly people leaving their homes in Cowley amid claims of "mob rule".

Paul King, who lives opposite the ransackedhouse in Radford Close, Rose Hill, said: "The people I've spoken to here are all really worried.

"One night there's a family living there, the next night there's no-one. We don't want to leave our houses unattended now."

People on the estate believed the attack was the result of vigilantes taking the law into their own hands after unsubstantiated claims were made against the family.

Oxford City councillors were split on the issue. David Penwarden, who represents Iffley, said: "In a way, it is healthy that the local community has taken the initiative, but it is a messy business and I hope the police and the authorities will listen carefully to what is being said to them and take appropriate action."

Carole Ann Roberts, who also represents Iffley, said: "If the police had been doing their job properly and acted on the information they are given we wouldn't have these problems."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We don't support vigilante action under any circumstances.

"Local beat officers in the area are currently investigating reports that youths may have been responsible for the problems in Radford Close last week."

Elderly people living off Horspath Road, Cowley, have also claimed gangs of youths are threatening to ransack their houses and making them afraid to leave their homes.

Chris Smith, 62, said youths had threatened to burn her house down, while another group abused her while she was at a nearby bus stop.

She was afraid to travel the short distance from her home to Cowley centre and accompanied elderly friends to the shop because they would not venture out alone.

Another elderly resident, who was too afraid to be named, said: "They're all bullies and thugs and it's mob rule here."

Police are investigating the allegations.