ONE-WOMAN crime fighting machine Robbie Ayres has received death threats for launching a crusade to rid her neighbourhood of a gang of yobs dubbed the mini mafia.

Mrs Ayres has started a petition to get more police patrols in the Meadowcroft area of Upper Stratton, where the gang of about 30 youths is making life a misery.

Residents say the yobs, aged between nine and 17, intimidate residents and younger children, and have made some parts of Meadow-croft no-go areas after dark.

According to Mrs Ayres, their latest craze is to arm themselves with golf clubs, which they also use to hit stones at people's homes.

They also vandalise property and cause danger to motorists by playing 'chicken' forcing vehicles to brake sharply by running in front of them, she said. In one incident, gang members assaulted a boy with special needs and robbed him of £2.

Mrs Ayres, 48, says the police are failing to tackle the problems and more officers are desperately needed on the streets.

But since starting her petition, which so far has been signed by 100 people, Mrs Ayres has faced a barrage of abuse from the youngsters, including five verbal death threats.

The mother-of-three said: "I have been told that me and my family are dead, and that they are going to burn my house down."

Swindon police say they are doing their best with limited resources.

But Mrs Ayres says unless the police take more action, residents could start taking the law into their own hands.

Inspector Bill Halsey, who is responsible for policing East Swin-don, said his officers were doing their best.

He said: "Upper Stratton has a dedicated beat officer.

"But he can't be available around the clock.

"The area is also policed by a response team from Swindon Central Police Station, whose primary role is to attend 999 emergency calls. and by officers from the East Sector, who have a large area to patrol."

He said any criminal behaviour, such as making death threats or using golf clubs as offensive weapons, would be thoroughly investigated.

One Meadowcroft resident, a 47-year-old mother-of-three who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions, has installed a CCTV camera on her home.

She said: "We are talking about a mini mafia.

"If we don't do something about this now the area will turn into a ghetto."

On Tuesday, she caught two youths on film, who she claims, were trying to break into a neighbours' home.

The film has been handed to the police, who are investigating the incident.

The Evening Advertiser recently reported how the gang has been causing problems at Meadowcroft Express Shop.

Police are collecting evidence to take out anti-social behaviour orders on five youths involved.