A NASTY incident involving teenage yobs ganging up on a 71-year-old man has led to a petition calling for more police presence in Bridgwater town centre.

Outcry came after Bridgwater resident Liam Tucker posted on social media after witnessing the incident on Fore Street.

"Just finished work. Walking down the high street. Lot of shouting going on. Found a large gang of teenagers ganging up on a 71-year-old man. Throwing food at him. Spitting at him. In the High Street. Women and children present," Mr Tucker posted.

"I intervened and stayed with the pensioner until one PCSO turned up. He was called by the Coffee No.1 manager who also attended. Police presence bare minimum.”

With many comments lambasting the anti-social behaviour in the town centre, a petition has been launched calling for more police presence.

The petition is calling on MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, PCC Sue Mountstevens, Avon and Somerset Police and town councillors for the Westover Ward to take action.

Sgt Joseph Piscina, local Sgt for Bridgwater Town Centre, said: “Over the past three months we have experienced some incidents with anti-social behaviour in the town above what we would normally expect to see, and sadly they have involved young people on these occasions.

“We have upped our patrols in the area and have also increased the local Beat Team with an additional PC and PCSO joining us. 

“We have been working with local schools and ensuring we have processes in place to communicate with and educate local young people as to the impact on others and the consequences of being involved in such incidents, and this has proved successful as we have seen a decrease in the number of reported incidents.

"The majority of young people in Bridgwater are not involved and are very positive and welcome members of the community. I wouldn’t want the majority to be labelled due to the actions of a small minority.

“Unfortunately those who have been involved in some of the recent incidents have ended up in the criminal justice system.

"We have issued four conditional cautions to certain individuals which prevents them from coming into town; we have also undertaken one community resolution process and four ABC contracts.

"Putting young people through a criminal justice process is not ideal and we would much prefer that they don’t put themselves in that situation.

"However, we won’t tolerate any intimidating, criminal or anti-social behaviour in the town.

“We have now seen a decrease in reported incidents and with the Beat Team conducting additional patrols in the area we hope this will continue.

"I would ask the local community to report any issues to us officially via the website, the 101 number or by calling 999 when appropriate.”

Leader of Bridgwater Town Council Brian Smedley said steps were already being taken to address the situation.

"The Town Council takes Police matters very seriously and every meeting Police report is the first item on the agenda," he said.

"The Police always attend and answer all our questions. However, town council is not the body responsible for their funding, control or disposition.

"We have pressured them about the town centre ASB issue for months and at last weeks meeting we were told they had turned a corner on this, identifying numbers of them and apprehending six ringleaders. However, the Police in Bridgwater remain ridiculously understaffed and will be even more stretched as more Hinkley contractors come into the town."

"What action will we take as town council? I have written now to the local Police for a report on this incident and what theyre doing to deal with it.

"I will write to PCC Mountstevens and Mr Liddell Grainger and invite them to a special meeting with town council and public about police levels in the town."

"We will launch a campaign to ensure they take this issue seriously, and I know you will all support us in this," he added.

"I would also personally say well done to Liam Tucker and the assistant manager from Coffee No.1 for intervening to calm down an incident and for reporting the matter to the police and to the wider community."