Residents on a north Wales housing estate have voiced their concerns at possible vigilante action to stop a gang of youths.

People living on the Maesgeirchen estate in Bangor say some residents have begun patrolling the area to halt acts of vandalism and violence.

Elderly residents will not answer their doors at night

Gwynedd councillor Derek Hainge said buses had been attacked by youths and forced off the road and pensioners homes had been attacked.

The problem came to a head when one resident was threatened with a machete outside his home, said Coun Hainge.

"People have just got so frustrated at the lack of action," he said.

"This is a very real concern, it only takes a split second for someone to pull a knife and hurt someone. We do not want people here to get hurt.

These men who have been going out on patrol have been doing more than the police

Sylvia Humphreys, Bangor councillor

"We cannot condone what has happened, but since this alleged vigilante action started, things have calmed down.

"The last week or so there also seems to have been more police activity here."

North Wales Police have warned people not to take action into their own hands and added that action had been taken.

"Now that we have reached rock bottom, we have various agencies who have come in to help us.

"We now have a residents association, a healthy living centre is starting up,and the council and police are more active than they have ever been before."

Residents have started a watch group

Sylvia Humphreys, Bangor city councillor, said she had also grown concerned by events.

"As a home care worker on the estate, I have seen youngsters climbing over roofs and banging on doors.

"There are residents who are 70, 80 and 90 years old who do not want this; they are frightened to open their doors."

She added: "I think the response time of the police is very slow.

"These men who have been going out on patrol have been doing more than the police and if they are not doing any harm, good luck to them."