A lakeside community terrorised by “vile” catapult-wielding teens targeting wildlife — and even a mum-of-two in her car — say they’ve been forced to take matters into their own hands.

The most recent attack at St Clements Lakes in Greenhithe happened on Sunday (June 1) afternoon when the yobs aimed at Holly Collins while her children were in the back seats.

It happened shortly after 1.30pm when she was picking up her son’s friend.

Holly said: “I pulled up outside their house, and there were teenagers aiming at ducks in the lake.

“I shouted at them, ‘You better not be hurting those ducks, because I'll call the police,’ and they all started swearing at me.”

Read more: The sick world of TikTok animal abusers using catapults to kill wildlife in Kent exposed

At the time, she suspects there were about a dozen boys aged between 12 and 13.

She continued: “I got back in the car and we drove off, but my son's friend had forgotten his phone, so we came back and then they were all aiming at me.

“I had the window open with the kids in the car, and they hit it, but luckily it missed me. Then they all ran off.”

The ordeal has left both the 37-year-old and her children “shaken up” and “out of sorts” over it.

A spokesperson for the police said they were aware of the incident and details have been passed to local officers.

Some of the boys’ schools have also been informed.

But, it's not the first time attacks like this have happened in the area and frustrated residents say it’s a “weekly occurrence” here, and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with “no end in sight”.

Anum Abid, who has lived by the lake for the last seven years, says she’s been an eye-witness to attacks on several occasions and they’ve had enough.

She said: “It's just ridiculous how bad it's getting. Everyone is just so fed up and frustrated.

“You'll see an average kid here wanting to throw stones at a bird for absolutely no reason whatsoever and the thing is they seem to have no fear of anything.

“They're very vile individuals, but it's not just one group of kids, though. I feel like it's not even one age group.”

Resident and wildlife expert Carly Ahlen says the yobs come to hurt the animals every weekend.

She said: “After they tried to take a shot at Holly, I ran across to check in case they had managed to kill any [ducks].

“They had run off, but we did circulate all around the lakes. I was very worried they had gone to Bluewater, because there are waterbirds there, and I was worried they were going to target them next.

“They had disappeared, but they could have gone into the shops by then, causing trouble and mischief.

She added: “It’s a weekly occurrence with no end in sight.”

The attacks on the wildlife have resulted in a decreasing bird population at the lake, says Carly.

Last year, the founder of ornithology organisation Gabo Wildlife was called to eight geese killed after being deliberately hit in Anchor Boulevard.

And just a few months ago, a moorhen and a goose were shot to death with ball bearings on the St Clements Lakes development.

With the issue ongoing, neighbours have set up a WhatsApp group to report incidents. It has about 300 members.

If anyone sees anything suspicious, they go out and do patrols. They also share crime reference numbers.

Anum said: “I don't understand why we are having to do this? We're not a law enforcement agency. They are breaking the law.

“We feel like we are just left to our own devices and there's only so much that we can do to try and protect the environment that we live in.”

The frustrated resident says despite provided lots of information, including photo and video evidence no serious action has been taken.

She added: “I’m really sick and tired of nothing being done by anybody. Law enforcement has done nothing

“We as local residents are the ones that have to come in and intervene and stop these vile, horrendous kids.

“They have no fear of anything. They think this is entertainment because they tape it and put it on things like Snapchat. And not only do they have no repercussions you are not banning these catapults.”

Carly has since set up a petition calling for the ban of catapults. With more than 20 signatures in less than a day, it is now awaiting approval to be published on the official government site.

She said: “There's absolutely no reason children should be running around with them — it’s madness.

“It's very awful to live in this small community, and people be afraid to come out and stand up to them [the teenagers]. The police don't come.

“Because these kids before are not found or prosecuted, others think ‘We can get away with it’.

“It's an epidemic — swans all over Kent, London, you know, are being targeted by kids posting this on social media.

“It's not going to stop until they are held accountable for these terrible things.”

Anum added: “They are now aiming and threatening people with it. I feel very unsafe here, to be honest.

“We keep raising this to the police and absolutely nothing happens — I don't understand like how much more noise needs to be created.

She does not believe age should be a factor in not taking action.

“If they are underage that’s not an excuse,” Anum adds. “You are only grooming criminals for the future.

“And for people who don’t care about animals you have to understand that this behaviour is only going to progress to humans later. You might think you are safe but you are not.”

Police are encouraging residents to report issues online through the following link.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Police are aware of concerns raised on June 1, concerning the behaviour of a group of people at a lake next to Castleridge Drive, Greenhithe.

“It is reported a catapult was aimed at wildlife and was also used to fire an object towards a car, which was not damaged.

“The group had left the scene when the catapult incidents were reported, and details have been passed to local officers.

“Enhanced patrols are operating in the area over the summer months and residents are encouraged to report anti-social behaviour to their local beat officer, PC Calum Andrews.”