GANGS of youths are plaguing a Southampton funeral directors and using it as a dumping ground.

Now managers from J Beavis and Sons are demanding police move youngsters hanging around outside their premises and chucking rubbish into their car park.

Throngs of up to 20 youths began gathering on a green outside the company in Vincent Street, Shirley, six months ago.

The managers say the teenagers regularly scatter drinks cans, takeaway boxes and wrappers and cigarette butts on the grass and pavements and have been seen riding scooters on the building’s flat roof.

And at night neighbours claim they take over another car park next door, revving car and motorbike engines, shouting and keeping residents awake until the early hours.

Manager John Coates said: “There can be up to 20 youngsters sitting on the wall around our car park and our staff are faced with clearing away the rubbish they leave behind every morning to ensure it is clean, tidy and respectable for the families visiting us.

“We have provided a bin, which unfortunately they have failed to use and we have involved the community police officers, but disappointingly we have seen no significant change in their behaviour.”

Richard Geary was so shocked when he visited the company that he contacted the Daily Echo.

‘Disgraceful’ The 67-year-old who lives in Hythe said: “It’s disgraceful that grieving families are having to run a gauntlet of youngsters making mess and leaving it behind.

“They should show more respect and should be more considerate for what goes on there.”

A pensioner living in nearby Milner Court sheltered housing block said he is so distressed by the late night noise he wants to move from the area.

The man, who was too frightened to give his name, said: “It’s disrespectful to the dead.

“They are driving round and pulling wheelies and riding round the car park until the early hours and if you complain you get abuse.

“They’ve had the police round but all they can do is move them on “It’s stressing me out and night after night I get no sleep.”

His 93-year-old neighbour, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “They shouldn’t be dumping rubbish anyway, but outside a funeral home?

“They should show more respect.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed officers were aware of problems at the site and they were looking into it.