TERRIFIED residents dialled 999 as one of their neighbours came under siege from a gang of youths.

A 20-strong group of teenagers attacked a house in Rowley Avenue, Sidcup, on Sunday evening as a father and son battled to keep the gang from invading their property.

Eyewitnesses claim the youths hurled a wheelbarrow, car batteries, a car door, breeze blocks and even a lawnmower at the pair, as they tried to stop their garden gates from being overrun.

In the melee, the son had his nose broken and the whole back wall of the garden was kicked down by the marauding youngsters.

Residents say trouble first erupted about 30 minutes earlier further up Rowley Avenue, when a fight broke out and one person was punched in the face.

The gang, who congregate in Penhill Park behind the homes in Rowley Avenue, turned nasty at about 5.30pm, after people tried to stop a youth driving a four-wheel drive vehicle in the park, where children were playing.

Residents say the owner of the targeted house was trying to calm things down by talking to the youths.

One woman told News Shopper: "Everything seemed to be fine. Then a 14-year-old who is well known to police, climbed onto the roof of a car being restored at at the end of the garden."

She added: "He dared the resident and his son to come and get him.

"Then he spat at the son and the rest of the mob got involved.

"They were throwing anything they could find. I am sure if they had got in, someone would have been killed."

Residents claim despite numerous 999 calls it took police nearly 30 minutes to get to the scene.

They say the youngsters have been causing trouble in the area for some time, congregating in the park to drink and take drugs.

Another resident said: "The police seem frightened to get involved.

"They told us not to interfere on Sunday, but how can you watch a neighbour trying to stop a gang from trying to get into his house?"

Residents are angry only three of the gang were arrested and the rest continued to hurl abuse at residents as the police left.

They also want to know why the son of the resident was also arrested on suspicion of assault and spent the night in police cells.

Bexley police confirmed they had been called to a large disturbance in Rowley Avenue.

They said a 14-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and been released on police bail.

Two older youths were arrested in connection with criminal damage.