A McDONALD'S manager has called for police action on youths causing chaos in the city centre.

Natalie Butler, a manager at McDonald's in The Foregate, Worcester, said children have been smoking cannabis and playing 'chicken' with buses outside the restaurant.

She said the problems have become worse in the last year, with some of the kids recently burning paper bags at the fast-food joint.

The 22-year-old added: "They are so bad. We are not allowed to manhandle them to get them out. We have to ring the police.

"They are playing chicken with buses. The amount of times the buses have had to slam their brakes or beep their horns is ridiculous.

"They smoke weed outside. They [also] smoke inside. We have had them smoking upstairs and they have set fire to paper bags in the last few months.

"There's only so many times they [the police] can come out. They tell them to go away and then later on they come back.

"As they're all underage there's nothing the police can really do."

The same group of youths have been causing problems at the restaurant for around three years, according to Ms Butler.

She added that the gang consists of up to 10 youngsters, aged between 15 and 16, although some are younger.

"It's got worse in the last year. Each year they get older," Ms Butler said.

"We have heard them saying they have been kicked out of school.

"They know we can't do anything. I think they need criminal behaviour orders, so they can't come in."

She said the youngsters intimidate customers and their children, who sometimes have to walk through smoke to get inside the restaurant.

The landlord of a city centre pub, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, added: "One of them punched my arm a couple of weeks ago to try and steal a cigarette.

"They are running amok between Angel Street and Asda. They gather around McDonald's. They obviously don't go to school."

One resident, who also did not want to be named, said the children throw stones at the windows of city centre properties.

They added: "They are playing chicken with buses and doing wheelies on their bikes. Someone is going to get seriously injured or killed.

"They are outside McDonald's at least four to five times a week, in the late afternoon and sometimes in the evening.

"I have contacted the police on a couple of occasions. The police told us something is being done about it but I've not seen anything yet.

"It's got worse over the last six to eight months. I'd like to see more visible policing and observation."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "We are aware of a number of incidents around The Cross area and are working with partners and the premises itself to address the issues."