Residents in a Pembroke neighbourhood claim they are being forced out of their homes by gangs of up to 40 youths who hang around their apartment block at night fighting, drinking, and smoking drugs.

People living in Swanston Apartments on Berkeley Road said they feared for their safety and felt unable to allow their children to play outside as the gangs turned up every night - and at weekends - in increasing numbers.

One resident, who has two small children and wanted to remain anonymous, said she had called Police numerous times as the shouting, swearing and loud music became too much to bear.

On one occasion she said residents had to call for an ambulance after a boy of 12 literally drank himself unconscious on the driveway of their apartment.

The young mother said the situation became so bad she had to swap bedrooms with her two youngsters because they were unable to sleep at night due to the racket, which was just outside their window.

She said: "We came here last summer and the problem has just got worse and worse. I can't imagine what it will be like in summer.

"Even during the winter months, we have had gangs of about 30 to 40 boys and girls congregating outside. They are aged between 12 and 20.

"They start to gather at about 5 p.m., and have stayed as late as 1 a.m. before. They smoke weed regularly (and) fight and curse all the time. We have complained to both the Bermuda Housing Corporation and the Police so many times, but still they are here.

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

Next to Swanston Apartments is a small piece of land that combines as a driveway and leads to a small wooden hut behind a nearby property. Neighbours said they believed the youths used the hut to smoke their drugs.

Strewn around the ground were empty beer bottles and mounds of trash that residents claim the gangs have left behind.

The woman added: "Sometimes it's serious fighting right outside our door. My fiance is so concerned he won't leave me here on my own.

"It's very frustrating when you have guests because people don't like to stay very long. Just last week I heard a boy and a girl get into a big fight because she had arrived and seen him having sex with someone else.

"We don't want to live in an area like this. All of the residents are tired of it. Many are young families or single mothers who dare not say anything. "

A male resident in the block said he could smell the drugs the gangs were smoking when he was sat inside his home - with the windows closed.

He added: "This is private property and I don't think any of the people that hang around here actually live here.

"It has got to the stage where the Police support unit is having to come out because there is so many of them causing trouble."

And one mother said she had had numerous arguments with the gangs, but to no avail.

"The only rest we get is when it's raining, they leave us alone then. But if the weather is dry, they come here and literally terrorise us," she said.

"It's every night. They are smoking, drinking, shouting and leaving their trash in the yard, right outside our homes. People's vehicles have even been damaged.

"I can't live with the madness anymore. They are absolutely crazy. There is so much tension among the residents. I'm frightened something serious is going to happen."

Insp. Craig Morfitt, of the Police support unit, said his team had visited the area and had made arrests, but he urged residents to continue to call his unit if they had problems.

He said: "We have had complaints from residents in this apartment block about problems they are having and we have made it clear to them that whenever these people appear, they should call us.

"If they are committing offences when we get there, then we will arrest them. We are trying to get the message across that we are here to deal with problems like this. Residents should not have to put up with any kind of disturbance like this."

Sgt. Robert Cardwell said the unit visited the area last Tuesday after receiving two separate complaints.

He said three people were arrested when Police arrived.

Anyone suffering similar problems can call the Police support unit direct at 737-5822, or Police at 295-0011.