The big bang theory

People living in the Nelson Street and Victoria Road 
area have had to endure people letting off loud bangers late at night and are now at their wits’ end.

Police believe a group of men are responsible for the mysterious goings-on and, on Friday, arrested a 50-year-old man, who was found in Castle Road with a firework just after 11pm.

He was later bailed while the investigation continues.

Mark Coleman, landlord of the Nelson Inn, told The Scarborough News that people in the area were confused and fed up.

He said: “It has been happening on and off now for a year.

“It’s always late at night, normally on Tuesdays and Sundays, and it is beyond a joke.

“I have no reason why anyone would do it, there are a lot of families living round here, many with young children and it has been a nightmare for them.

The whole thing is just baffling and very strange. To keep it up for a year takes some sort of dedication or vendetta.”

Mr Coleman has put up signs in his pub warning those who are responsible, and said he has even barred one of his regulars who he suspected was involved in the baffling disturbances.

He added that the consequences for pubs in the area could be dire.

“If these men are caught and are found to be locals in one of the pubs then, theoretically, the police could pursue action against the landlords for breach of licensing conditions for failing to control customers,” said Mr Coleman, who has been landlord at the Victoria Road pub for two years.

Mr Coleman said he has been in constant contact with the police.

He added: “We have been told by the police they think its a gang of men, not kids or anything like that but grown men.”

He said one theory is that the men are throwing “crow scarers”, used by farmers, or “polish bangers” which can be lit and then left to explode 30 seconds later.

This has made it difficult to catch the men in the act.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman told The Scarborough News: “Scarborough Police are carrying out enquiries following a report of nuisance behaviour in the Nelson Street area of the town.

“A resident called the force at 10.38pm on Friday to complain about loud bangs which have been going off between 10.30pm and 11pm every night for a few months.

“The noise has been causing a nuisance in the area and waking up children.

“Police are aware of social media comments about the issue.

“In response, the local policing team have carried out house-to-house enquiries and a letter drop in the area, requesting residents to report dates and times of the loud bangs.

“Enquiries with council CCTV operators and at the nearby Nelson Pub have also been conducted.

“At this stage it has not been confirmed who or what is responsible for the loud bangs, but every effort is being made to get to the bottom of it and put residents’ minds at rest. Clearly this type of disturbance is not acceptable.”

Following the arrest of a man on Friday police added that they believed hat a group of people is responsible.

The spokesman added: “Police enquiries are on-going to trace other potential suspects.”

The bangs have been heard as far away as Falsgrave Road, Scalby Road and the Old Town.

People contacted the Scarborough News yesterday morning to report more explosions being heard on Tuesday night.

l Anyone with information that can assist police is asked call 101, select option 2, and ask for Julie Johnson, quoting reference number 1216004315.