LARGE, intimidating gatherings of teenagers are frightening residents in Oakdale into staying indoors on Friday nights.

Groups of up to 40 youths have been accumulating at the Oakdale traffic lights, at the junction of Vicarage Road and Wimborne Road.

There have been reports of drinking and drug taking, fighting, throwing cans and bottles and urinating in front gardens.

One frightened resident in her late 40s, who preferred not to be named, said: "I won't come out of my house and other people are the same.

"I've lived in the middle of a city and never known anything like this.

"There is drinking and violence and next things are going to get damaged.

"It's like the streets when you walk to a football match only those crowds are better behaved."

Community support officers at Poole council and the police's safer neighbourhood team have become involved in the issue.

Amanda Bombardiere, community safety and development manager at the council, said their officers had been out talking to residents and that their grounds for complaint were legitimate.

She said: "We have had reports of a variety of anti-social behaviour, including some intimidation, so it is serious enough to warrant a review.

"There clearly are some issues there and we have been out to investigate.

"We are trying to get the bigger picture of what is going on and we are working closely with our colleagues in the police."

The council is advising residents to call 999, as opposed to Dorset Police's 222222 number, if they feel threatened to ensure the call is properly logged on the police system.