Please note, this is an archived story. Please check the date above.

Rev Michael Kujacz of St Dunstan's RC church Moston was working in his presbytery with local youngsters when a gang of 25 boys gathered outside the door and began shouting obscenities through the letterbox.

Fr Michael tried to reason with the gang without success and was forced to call the police but shortly afterwards received an urgent request to attend a sick parishioner.

He was afraid to leave the youngsters in the house with the gang lying in wait outside and prayed for help. Then, he says, the heaven's opened and drenched the gang sending them fleeing for cover and leaving the youth group to continue in peace until he returned.

He said: "A gang of about 25 lads laid siege to the house wanting to fight the lads who were here. Just when I did not want it, I got an urgent sick call. I was reluctant to leave the kids in the house on their own with this lot outside.

"I got the oils, stole and little book together while saying an urgent prayer. Believe it or not, as I unlocked the car door, the heavens opened and the rain lashed down and sent them home in all directions."

Now Fr Michael is urging the police to tackle the growing problem of nuisance gangs in the neighbourhood rather than leave the job in God's hands.

"About 10.30 the police came but, of course, by then the rain had seen them all off. I explained my concerns and also that this gang has grown considerably over the past six weeks or so and lots of the neighbourhood had been subjected to this brand of terrorism.

"They assured me they would keep an eye on things. We'll see how things turn out next week. These nuisances succeed when they take away your peace of mind, rob you of your faith and turn laughter into bitter tears.

"Let's mither and mither all those who are in authority until something is done where good neighbourliness is seen once more as a virtue and not a weakness."