POLICE and fire chiefs have vowed to do all in their power to catch “reckless” yobs who brought violence and destruction to the streets of Keighley on Bonfire Night.

The “abhorrent” scenes included an attack on a family by a stone-throwing gang that left a baby injured and his older sister bruised.

There was also an incident where 30 youths barricaded a street and hurled missiles, which smashed a fire engine windscreen, and an attack that led to Keighley Fire Station itself being shut down.

Kim Ager’s one-year-old son, Rylan, sustained a black eye after a gang of yobs approached them in Lund Park, one throwing a stone that landed in his pram. Miss Ager’s 15-year-old-daughter, Megan, was struck on her leg and had a laser pen shone into her eyes during the attack at 6pm.

She said her nine-year-old son, Callum, who is having chemotherapy for neuroblastoma, was sobbing as the family fled to their home in nearby Hardwick Street.

Miss Ager said Keighley felt like a “war-zone”, adding: “There were fires burning in streets all around us and fireworks going off in tiny yards everywhere.”

Miss Ager dialled 999 at 6.30pm and was told police would be there within the hour, but officers did not arrive until 11.30pm, she said.

“The gang was still hanging about for a couple of hours after it happened. If police had come quicker they would have caught them,” said the 33-year-old.

Inspector Sue Sanderson, who leads Keighley Area Neighbourhood Team, said officers who had been on their way to Miss Ager’s home were diverted to a traffic collision.

Meanwhile, fire chiefs have slammed the actions of other youths who targeted crews later that night in a string of attacks.

Fire chiefs had to put an emergency plan into place just before 11pm, moving the Keighley crews and appliances to the police station along with the Silsden retained crew while police guarded the fire station. Crews were then escorted out on jobs until tensions eased.

Another incident saw 30 youths barricade Belgrave Road, start a fire and and hurl missiles that smashed a fire engine windscreen.

Area manager for fire safety, Ian Bitcon, said: “We completely condemn these abhorrent actions, which put our firefighters in jeopardy.

“Not only that but the Haworth engine had to be temporarily taken off the run on the fire service’s busiest night of the year due to a broken windscreen, which costs in the region of £2,000 to buy and fit.”

Insp Sanderson added: “Police are working alongside the fire service to identify those involved and will use whatever legislation is available to bring them to account.”