A gang of 18 teenage thugs terrorised the owners of two canal boats by hurling stones and jumping on their barges to try and stop them going through a lock.
The boaters were attempting to navigate a lock on the Rochdale Canal in Failsworth, Oldham, when the hooded youths approached them.
The gang of teens jumped up and down on the boats, hopping between the two crafts, as the worried owners tried to move on.
The boaters were trying to navigate a lock on the Rochdale Canal in Failsworth, Oldham, when the hooded youths approached them and jumped on the barges
The victims have shared video footage of the incident, which took place at 3pm on Monday, in the hope of catching those responsible.
One of the five-strong boat crew, who asked not to be named, said: ‘My wife and I had cycled ahead of the party to approach the lock for the boats to come down.
‘When the two boats came down they started jumping onto the boats and rocking them.
‘It was really dangerous, if they had got crushed between the boat and the wall they could have got seriously injured or killed.
‘When the boats came down they put their hoods over their faces.’
Another member of the crew said: ‘We live in those boats. It’s our house. Imagine someone coming in and jumping on your house and in your garden.
The victims have shared video footage of the incident, which took place at 3pm on Monday, in the hope of catching those responsible
One member of the crew said: ‘We live in those boats. It’s our house. Imagine someone coming in and jumping on your house and in your garden’
‘Nothing like this has ever happened to us before. But it’s our first time on the Rochdale Canal – it has this terrible reputation.
‘People don’t like stopping on it. Just before that incident this group of girls were shouting at us further up the canal, and one started spitting in our direction.’
The group of boys are described as being between the ages of 12 to 14, and were wearing hoodies and tracksuit bottoms.
No arrests have been made and police are appealing to anyone with more information to get in touch.
The group of boys are described as being between the ages of 12 to 14, and were wearing hoodies and tracksuit bottoms
A GMP spokeswoman said: ‘We were called to reports a group of about 18 youths around 14-years-old were jumping on canal boats and throwing stones at the boats.
‘No arrests have been made.’
Anyone with further information can contact police on 101, quoting reference 1115 of September 5.