A WEST Somerset family are questioning an apparent ‘lack of interest’ by police after teenagers believed to part of a ‘feral’ gang who have caused trouble for more than a year stole two cars, crashing one and leaving it upside down.

The thefts occurred in the early hours of Sunday, October 4, and involved three youths aged between 14 and 16 years, whose identities are known.

But, the family said police were slow to take witness statements and to collect potential physical evidence from the crash scene.

The joyriders first stole a woman’s VW car from Minehead and drove to Watchet, where they removed the number plates and abandoned it near Brendon Road.

They then took a young Watchet man’s Ford Focus at about 5.30 am to make the drive back to Minehead.

However, they crashed and overturned the vehicle near the Washford Inn, Washford, and were later seen ‘looking dazed’ walking along the A39.

The young man’s mother said: “My son’s car was completely upside down and smashed up.

“We have CCTV of them, they went up St Decuman’s Road and smashed a seat to pieces which is where the car bumper was pulled off.

“There is CCTV of the car going past the Washford Inn and then 30 seconds later you hear the crash.

“But, the police do not seem interested.

“The police have not contacted us or been to the town council for CCTV.

“I have had to do it myself and tell the police.”

The woman said the youths were stopped and spoken to by a lorry driver, but he was unaware of the crash and thought they had come from an illegal rave which had been going on in the area throughout the night.

The Free Press requested a statement on the incident from Avon and Somerset Constabulary but did not receive one.