Neighbours in a smart suburban area are living in fear of organised gangs of youths, some as young as 12, who boast about carrying knives.

One gang, calling itself the Southwick Soldiers, has been blamed for intimidating and threatening people, leaving many residents afraid to walk down their own street.

Southwick is described by property experts as a smart neighbourhood of young, well-off families and commuters who are mostly homeowners. The latest spate of trouble has shocked residents who say it is spoiling the area's reputation.

Police say officers regularly patrol the neighbourhood but residents say it is having little impact.

The Southwick Soldiers have even set up their own website.

Residents estimate the gang has up to 60 members.

Sussex Police acknowledged there was some disorder in Southwick but said it was caused by a small number of troublemakers.

Taunts from rival gangs in places such as Lancing and Fishersgate have fuelled fears that the trouble is escalating.

Graffiti is being sprayed on walls and many neighbours have heard talk of gangs organising fights.

One such incident brought the problem to a head last month when trouble broke out on Southwick Green in what neighbours described as a "mini-riot".

Gangs of up to 60 youths were involved in a weekend disturbance on the open space near homes but had dispersed by the time police arrived.

People reported gangs of youths aged between 12 and 20 were fighting, yelling and swearing at each other.

Earlier this month, residents called the police after seeing 50 to 60 youths with weapons at the children's play area in Manor Hall Road, Southwick. The children, aged 14 to 16, ran off when police arrived, leaving weapons including a kitchen knife, scaffolding bars and lumps of wood.

Residents want police to beef up patrols, install surveillance cameras in areas where the youths congregate and use new police powers of dispersal orders or antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) to bring the gangs under control.

Southwick taxi driver Darren Smith, said: "They are terrorising the place. They have no respect for anyone, including the police, and they are making life a misery for everyone."

The Argus spoke to many residents yesterday, many of whom did not want their names revealed for fear of reprisals.

All had heard of the gangs and most knew of someone who had suffered threats or abuse.

A shopkeeper said: "They are highly organised, highly motivated and increasingly violent."

One man said he has called the police 40 times. Another said he witnessed a man being assaulted by them outside his house on Tuesday with no action taken by the police.

Parents say their children are scared to go to school because of the intimidation they face.

Some said they had been told gang members bragged about taking weapons into classes.

Ian Price, from Southwick, said his 14-year-old son has been assaulted by gang members. He is worried about his son attending King's Manor Community College, where he believed some of the gang went to school.

Heidi Brown, headteacher of King's Manor, said she was aware of problems in the area but said the gangs were not connected to the school.

She said: "As far as I'm concerned we do not have a gang culture in the school at all and don't have weapons being brought in.

"Obviously this is something we would take very seriously if we found there was a problem."

The manager of Your Local off-licence, who asked not to be named, said: "I've seen people beaten up, graffiti being written and numerous fights."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police have increased high visibility patrols and are using additional resources to disrupt disorder by a small number of troublemakers in Southwick.

"Local Support Team patrols are being made during the weekends and when intelligence has been received regarding possible disorder, officers have made home visits to potential troublemakers and their parents to discourage their involvement. This has had a positive impact."

Sergeant Ariarna Brotherhood, of the Safer Adur Team, said: "Last month we conducted a high visibility operation in response to community intelligence and in one weekend more than 100 people were stopped and spoken to by police. If the person stopped was young a letter was sent to their parents to advise of the circumstances.

"We would acknowledge the gathering of youths and low level antisocial behaviour does have a disproportionate effect on public reassurance."

A police surgery is being held at Southwick Community Centre between 6pm and 8pm for people to discuss their concerns.