The pretty British town where locals 'fear for their lives as teenagers carry machetes'

Locals in Bridgwater say they have to deal with teenagers armed with machetes (Image: Getty)

Residents living in the Somerset town of Bridgwater have warned that they fear for their lives in an area where teenagers are sometimes seen carrying knives.

In recent months the situation has escalated to the point where the leader of the town council Brian Smedley has raised the issue with the local town wardens, police, and homeless department.

What’s more, locals now say they’re afraid of teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16 and those in gangs who they claim carry machetes.

They add that they pose a bigger problem than some of the drinkers who they don’t see as so much of a threat.

Locals say they face problems with drunkenness and people carrying knives (Image: SWNS)

Speaking to the Sun, manager of The Fountain Pub, Becky Webber, 35, said: “It’s the kids that hang around in gangs that are the main problem. They are in big groups of 14–16-year-olds, and it’s getting worse.

“If I had to deal with the drinkers or the young kids I’d pick the drinkers because the young gangs are terrifying. They carry machetes, you see comments on social media, and we go to Pubwatch, so we know what goes on, and they do carry weapons.”

She added that while the drinkers “are a nuisance” they “don’t carry weapons” and “don’t threaten people”.

As well as issues with some teenagers, Bridgwater also has other issues as several shops and restaurants in the town have been boarded up as the cost of living has continued to bite into businesses.

Bridgwater has also seen several shops and restaurants close in recent years (Image: SWNS)

Another resident, who told the publication they only use the town to go to the bank, said the area was like a fleapit and had a lot of problems. They also cast doubt on whether any of the shops which had closed would ever open again.

While residents in Bridgwater suggest the town is struggling at a local level, it comes just weeks after it received a massive economic boost.

In February it was announced that the town would host a £4bn gigafactory that could create 4,000 jobs in the area.

Tata, who owns Jaguar Land Rover, announced they would be opening a new factory in the region, one which will produce batteries for electric cars. Figures suggest the facility could end up employing around 10,000 people.

Bridgwater is believed to have been chosen because of its “excellent” transport links with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying it was “a testament to the strength of the UK’s car manufacturing industry”.

Bridgwater’s Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger added: “Why Bridgwater? It's simple. Because we do it best, we have a huge ready-made site with amazing transport links and the finest workforce in Britain.”

Labour councillor Leigh Redman said the factory would give “local people of every age further opportunities to learn or reskill - we lose too many young people who are forced to move away to learn, often resulting in them staying away to work”.

Express.co.uk has approached Somerset Council for comment.