Young families fearful of gangs of up to 40 youths hanging around their homes drinking, fighting and smoking drugs are to be visited by both the Bermuda Housing Corporation and Pembroke West MP Wayne Perinchief.

After The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday that families living in Swanston Apartments, on Berkeley Road, were in fear for their safety and looking to move out, Mr. Perinchief said he had had no idea the gangs were causing trouble.

He said: "I drive past there every day and see a lot of young people hanging around, but I always thought they lived there. I had no idea.

"After I read the story, I called the Police Support Unit and was informed that their behaviour was a problem. I never realised they were being disruptive.

"I am going to talk to my fellow MP for the area, Neletha Butterfield, and we will probably pay a visit together. But I will definitely visit the residents on Saturday morning to find out what the issues are and to see if I can help them solve the problems. It's uncharacteristic of that area."

Residents living in the housing corporation apartments said they were kept awake at night by shouting, cursing and loud music from the gangs, and said they repeatedly had to call Police for assistance.

They said the gangs assemble on their driveway, right outside their doors, and use an empty shed behind the neighbouring property to abuse drugs.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said they had even had to call an ambulance when a 12-year-old gang member drank himself unconscious.

They claimed they had had vehicles damaged and said on one occasion a man passing on a moped with his girlfriend had to run to the apartments for cover and call Police after being "mobbed" by the gang after he collided on Berkeley Road.

One young mother-of-two said: "They start to gather at about 5 p.m. and have stayed as late as 1 a.m. before. They smoke weed regularly, fight, and curse all the time. There can be between 30 and 40 of them, aged between 12 and 20.

"We are desperate to move. This is no place to bring up children."

Yesterday, rentals manager for the Housing Corporation Wendy Bassett said steps were being taken to address the problems.

She said: "We are working with the Police to try and get a handle on what is going on down there.

"We are doing individual interviews with each of the tenants to ascertain the issues, and to see if any of the tenants are attracting the undesirables. If we find any of our tenants are encouraging these gangs, we will handle them.

"And we are also going to be talking to people in the neighbouring properties, too.

"The problem is that we can't fence the area off. If we find out they are not coming to the property as visitors, then we can ask the Police to do more general vigilant visits through the area.

"We want to solve this issue."