Shopkeepers who are being terrorised by a gang who abuse them and steal from their shops have said they feel completely helpless.

The parade of shops in Field End Road, South Ruislip, has been getting problems from the same gang for years, but traders say the police have done very little to help stop them.

Sangar Piasa, owner of Sunny News, said: "The whole gang is trouble in one way or another.

"The adults support their kids to steal and they are getting on our nerves. They come in, open chocolate bars, and then just eat them and walk out.

"It started about a year and a half ago and it's not once in a month, it's every day without fail. They steal, swear, and use racist comments.

"We put the shop up for sale about six months ago because we can't take it any more.

"We complain to the police all the time and we have seen no action. They tell us to ban them, but they still come in."

Abdul Kayum, manager of Blockbuster, said: "A staff member got punched in the stomach by three of the girls just because we asked them to leave. Another employee left because he was punched in the face by one of them.

"They threaten us all the time, saying they will come back and stab us."

Devi Raj, duty manager at Tesco Express, said: "They steal from us about 15 times a week.

"They put wine inside their jackets and sometimes they throw the bottles on the floor so they smash.

"We have banned them and they still come in, but that is all we can do."

South Ruislip councillor, Allan Kauffman, applied for a £16,000 grant from Hillingdon Council's Chrysalis Fund to pay for 12 CCTV cameras to be installed at the front of the shops in an attempt to stop the gang.

Shopkeepers also put in £8,000 to fund the scheme and four alley gates will also be installed behind the shops.

Mr Kauffman said: "The gates and the cameras will probably go up in about six weeks.

"At least then we will have a chance of getting the people on camera who run out of the stores, and they will know they are being watched.

"The police believe it will help them do their job better."

Inspector Shakil Qasim said: "This area is patrolled by the officers from the South Ruislip Safer

Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) each day they are on duty.

"Specific concerns have been voiced to us regarding anti-social behaviour attributed to local residents, and the number of incidents reported in the past six months is negligible.

"However, there may be issues that have not been brought to our notice and my staff will work together with the shopkeepers to resolve any of their concerns.

"If shopkeepers have any concerns then I urge them to contact the South Ruislip SNT on 0208 721 2011."