Riot police called out as gang of 50 youths start fires in Dundee

Residents in Dundee's Kirkton area have spoken of their fear and anger after 50 youths started fires in wheelie bins and smashed up an empty house.

Riot police were deployed in Beauly Avenue and Beauly Square at about 19:45 on Tuesday.

One woman said she had "never been so scared" to see the "terrifying" sight of 20 riot officers outside her house.

It is believed that children as young as eight took part in the disturbance, which lasted under an hour.

The area was the scene of a night of riots on 31 October last year as roads were blocked with bonfires.

Monday's disturbance was contained to a smaller area, with children setting fires outside and breaking windows at the house.

Another resident told BBC Scotland News that she planned to move out of the area after last night's events.

She said: "We're out of here, I'm not staying for this next year.

"The police were circling all day yesterday so we thought they'll be prepared this time, but clearly not."

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said the empty house had been targeted before.

She said: "They'd already been in and trashed that a few weeks ago.

"We were worried they'd set that on fire too."

Police Scotland said no officers or members of the public were injured in the disturbance.

They said inquiries were ongoing to identify those involved.

The leader of Dundee City Council said he was "incredibly angry" about the latest incidents and branded those involved "morons".

Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, Councillor John Alexander said: "It just makes me incredibly angry, not only as a local councillor but my mum and dad stay a couple of streets away.

"As a parent, looking at the ages of some of the young people I'm appalled. I'd be asking questions of my own children and I'm sure they would have came home smelling of smoke yesterday.

"The whole situation makes me incredibly angry and sad not only for those young people but for the wider community who this does not reflect."

Mr Alexander confirmed the damage was more "concentrated" than last year's disturbance.

He said the clean-up operation in Kirkton was now under way.

He continued: "Criminal damage is criminal damage. The fact they took it upon themselves to throw stones at that property and smash window just shows you how much care and regard they have for their own community, it's absolutely disgusting.

"I was brought up to respect my neighbours, to respect my community. Sadly, these individuals don't seem to have had the same upbringing."

Following last year's disturbance local supermarkets made the decision not to sell fireworks and police had been working to gather intelligence.

The previous disorder saw a school and vehicles damaged, and one officer sustained a minor injury as fireworks were thrown at police.

Bonfires were also set in the street and roads in the area were blocked for several hours.