RESIDENTS have been left fearing for their safety after witnessing a fight between gangs during a popular family event.

Now a county councillor, Coun. Derek Kennedy, has raised concerns for the upcoming Bonfire Night celebrations this weekend, saying this was not the first report he had received of brawls between youths.

Police officers were called to the Sele in Hexham at 7.45pm on Saturday night, during the town’s Spook Night, after reports of a large group of teenagers fighting.

Coun. Kennedy said he had been contacted by a member of the public who described ‘a huge mob of around 75 to 100 teens shouting and jeering right next to the Sele play park’.

“She described that a huge firework was thrown and landed right next to her little girl. She was terrified and they don’t want to go to another Spook Night after the experience,” Coun. Kennedy added.

He said it came after reports that on October 18, groups of teenagers from Hexham and Prudhoe were fighting on Tyne Green. This is believed to have coincided with a fun fair at Hexham Mart.

“I always think this is the key time when Hexham comes into its own. It’s big events like Spook Night and Bonfire Night where everyone comes together to enjoy them. I am just worried after what has happened last week, and the reports a couple of weeks earlier, that something else could happen this weekend.

“It’s starting to look like these things are becoming more organised and this seems to be becoming a bit more regular and a bit more obvious – a lot of people were aware of what happened on the Sele.

“Spook Night and Bonfire Night are show piece events with lots and lots of people around and we want this to be a family friendly welcome for people to come along to, without worrying they are going to stumble across a big fight between gangs.

“Really I would just like to nip this in the bud now before it goes too far, but certainly we need a community officer presence or a police presence at these events.”

Northumbria Police did not confirm specific arrangements for Hexham for Bonfire Night, but Chief Superintendent Janice Hutton, force lead for anti-social behaviour, said: “Plain-clothed and uniformed officers will be on patrol across the force area over the coming weeks to deal with any incidents and offenders will face action.

“We will also be visiting local businesses to warn them about the consequences of selling alcohol to young people.”