Young people in Glengormley using mobile phones to organise sectarian recreational riots are "making life a misery" for residents in the area it was claimed this week.

Residents living in the Glebe and Ashgrove area of Glengormley are said to be angry at the rioting between Catholic and Protestant youths in the area that is happening on a weekly basis.

The young people are texting and ringing each other to organise a riot.

Ciaran Tully, the Sinn Feín representative in Glengormley said the problem is getting worse as the summer goes on.

"The people who live in Glebe and Ashgrove are just living in misery with this behaviour that is going on near enough every weekend," he said.

"They young people are getting in touch with each other through their mobile phones and are organising to meet up to riot. Most weekends the people living here are tortured with it, I know of one woman who sold her home because of it. "Cars are being damaged and wing mirrors are being kicked off and people are afraid to come out of their houses when all this is going on. This is young ones from both sides getting tanked up on drink and fighting with each other.

"These past number of weeks it has been getting worse. A group of us have been going out and talking to the young people trying to get them to stop it."

Ciaran Tully said parents in the area need to be aware of where their children are and what they are getting up to at night time.

"The parents need to be taking responsibility for their children. There are young ones here who are aged between 12 and 18 years old and they are all playing their part in it.

"Their parents have to realise where their children are and the trouble they are getting into before someone is seriously hurt."

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police in Glengormley have received reports from local residents in the Glebecoole Park area of youths causing annoyance. 

“Police patrols have been increased in response to these concerns. 

“Anyone detected engaged in street disorder will be dealt with in a robust fashion and may face prosecution.

 Parents have a key role to play in tackiling this issue. 

“We would urge that parents be aware of where their children are and what they are up to. Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Unit have worked, and will continue to work in partnership with local residents and elected representatives, to resolve any issues