Teenagers pulled unsold newspapers from a container, ripped them up and then left a trail of litter near the General Stores in Staincliffe Road.

The Qayoom family spent three hours late last Friday night clearing up surrounding streets.

"We didn't want people to wake up, see the mess and blame us," said owner Rashid, 24, who lost £40 in sale and return fees.

He now wants police to stop the group plaguing the area and says the trouble has been going on for two years.

The family has only been back at the corner shop for six weeks.

Rashid's father, Abdul, ran the store for several years before selling in the mid-1990s.

"It was okay then," said Rashid. "There were some incidents but nothing serious like this.

"We are trying to improve the business and this is what we get."

As the family lives near the shop, Rashid has been aware of the group causing trouble for some time.

He says the teenagers urinate in gardens, throw eggs at cars and windows and generally harass the area.

One elderly lady who lives in Healds Road had to get a relative to take her by car to a friend who lives just six doors away.

The group members are mainly white, boys and girls and aged between 12 and 17.

A police spokesman said: "Two incidents have been reported in the past six months.

"The latest relates to the theft of newspapers on January 29. House-to-house inquiries were made and officers have since recovered CCTV footage."