A GANG of hooligans are being allowed to wreak havoc in Port Glasgow's town centre says an angry councillor and businessman.

Drew McKenzie says a group of yobs are 'running amok' with police nowhere to be seen.

The mob of out-of-control youngsters are believed to be behind a series of anti-social behaviour incidents, targeting shops, takeaways, public toilets and even a church, with the problems now spilling over onto the railway line.

In the latest incident, the loos at McDonald's in the Port Glasgow were mindlessly vandalised on Monday night.

Cartons were stuffed down toilets, causing flooding, and the walls were plastered in food sauces.

Mr McKenzie, whose butchers was targeted when a refrigeration unit parked outside the premises was set on fire, says enough is enough and action must be taken.

Cllr McKenzie says there is no police presence in the town and that CCTV cameras are not being manned by operators.

He said: "There was the incident with the van being set alight, a festive display was also wrecked and before that it all started with the New Parish Church being targeted.

"These youths have been drinking on church grounds and urinating on gravestones.

"When the minister came out to confront them all he got was abuse.

"At Louis' chip shop the bins keep getting set on fire and now McDonald's has had disruption.

"There are cameras at the top and bottom of Princes Street, John Wood Street, the station and outside the Caledonian Bar and I've been told by CID that they are working but there are no operators.

"An operator could focus in, see something brewing and help to prevent it.

"I don't know if it is council cutbacks but that is something high on the list of independent councillors - it is a public safety issue.

"A lot of pensioners live in the town centre and these are not isolated incidents, but there are no beat police at all.

"There are community police who are mostly in the retail park targeting shoplifters - there is a very limited police presence.

"They are conspicuous by their absence."

It's also claimed that the town centre trouble is moving onto the railway, with the teenage tearaways travelling up and down the line from the Port to Branchton and causing mayhem.

A passenger contacted the Telegraph this week saying he'd been attacked by a gang at Branchton Station on Sunday night and threatened with a knife.

He says it happened after one of them threw a bottle that struck the back of his head.

The man, who did not want to be named, says the line from Port Glasgow to Branchton 'is like the wild west' due to the behaviour of the young thugs.

The 38-year-old added: "There is always the same group on the Branchton to Port Glasgow line.

"One threw a bottle and it hit the back of my head.

"I confronted them and they all denied it and blamed each other then one of the wee guys, who was wearing a balaclava, threatened me and pulled out a lock-knife and threatened to stab me."

This incident has been reported to British Transport Police.

A BTP spokesperson said: "Officers were called to Branchton Station shortly after 6pm on December 26 following reports a man had been assaulted by a group of youths.

"Thankfully the victim didn’t sustain any injuries.

"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."

A member of staff at McDonald's, who didn't want to be named, said: "It happens here quite frequently, these children don't seem to have any respect.

"They're 16 and under.

"We get the community wardens coming up - we're used to a lot of trouble."

Police say they are working alongside residents to crack down on the outbreak of anti-social behaviour.

A spokeswoman said: "Inverclyde Police are aware of ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour around Port Glasgow town centre.

"Community officers continue to liaise directly with local residents and businesses to understand their concerns and work with our partners to find ways of addressing these.

"The town centre is currently included in our weekly partnership patrol and prevention plan which co-ordinates the work of police, Inverclyde Council, Scottish Fire & Rescue and other key services.

"The vast majority of young people in Inverclyde do not engage in anti-social behaviour.

"Those that are congregating and behaving in an unacceptable manner are putting themselves at risk and causing upset to fellow residents and this will not be tolerated."

A council spokesman said: "We do have public space CCTV and it is operational in the areas where there are cameras. 

"Cameras tend to be focused on areas where there is known anti-social behaviour or premises which are classed as high risk. 

"Footage that is gathered is either monitored real time when staff are on shift or recorded and available for review."