Park groundsmen attacked by gangs of yobs have demanded police protection.

Staff were last night clearing up after a county cricket match in Worthing when more than 20 teenagers threatened them.

The contractors called the police, but were told: "Sorry, we're too busy."

Earlier this summer, one groundsman at the Manor Sports Ground, off Broadwater Road, was punched by a gang member.

One of the wickets has been vandalised and thugs have repeatedly smashing windows with chunks of concrete ripped from the pavilion and fired by catapults.

Now council parks manager Chris Bradley is calling on the police to get a grip on the situation.

He said: "It has become very intimidating and threatening but we get no response from the police. It really should not be like that."

Mr Bradley was backed by Coun Maurice Tucker, chairman of leisure and cultural services, who said: "We are just fed up with this.

"All we are doing is fighting a rearguard action against the yobs. We had 16 windows smashed at the Aquarena swimming pool the other day."

For the first time in nearly 40 years the Manor Ground is hosting a three-day county cricket match between Sussex and Hampshire second XIs.

But as staff employed by contractors Continental Landscapes were clearing up, thugs threatened to attack them and slash the canvas sight-screens.

Mr Bradley said: "The match didn't finish until quite late in the evening and there was a lot of clearing up to be done. These kids came in and started threatening our guys.

"We have had staff physically assaulted this year. One was thumped by a yob in broad daylight.

"They have also tried to get into the machinery shed and stood in front of staff using machinery.

"The lads enjoy the job they do but they are frightened for their own safety. The yobs are aware no one can lay a hand on them and the police are unlikely to respond."

After the yobs had dispersed, police finally arrived at the sports ground to investigate reports of a vehicle being driven across the outfield. It was park staff making final checks before going home.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We have to put calls in order of priority given the resources we have available. Should Mr Bradley and Coun Tucker feel we haven't responded appropriately we would ask them to write to us and the matter will be further investigated."

Meanwhile, hoteliers are calling on police to clear out drunks who are defying a seafront no-drinking ban.

They are especially concerned that the dozen or so who congregate in a beach shelter opposite West Buildings have a child in a pram with them.

Diane Guest, chairman of Worthing Hospitality Association, said coaches full of visitors parked near the shelter and this was their first impression of Worthing.