What started as harmless Halloween fun turned into pure chaos for police officers in two English towns, as massive groups of teenagers took over residential streets late Friday night.
From Greater Manchester to Blackpool, hundreds of youths flooded quiet neighborhoods, forcing police to step in before things spiraled completely out of control.
A Quiet Estate Becomes a Wild Party Scene in Radcliffe
In Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, a calm new-build housing estate became the scene of a wild teenage takeover when word spread about a Halloween house party.
According to witnesses, somewhere between 300 and 500 young people turned up — far more than anyone expected.
Police vehicles soon swarmed the area as officers tried to disperse the huge crowd.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as looking like “a concert just finished,” as lines of teenagers filled the streets.
It’s believed the homeowners were away on holiday and had left their son in charge of the property — a decision that quickly got out of hand.
Six teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested for their involvement but have since been released on bail.
Blackpool Sees a Second Halloween Meltdown
Meanwhile, over in Blackpool, things weren’t much calmer.
Another Halloween bash spiraled out of control on the Normoss estate when roughly 300 young people showed up at a small “two-up, two-down” house on a council estate.
About 100 teens managed to squeeze inside the house, while nearly 200 more gathered outside in the street, many reportedly under the influence of alcohol and carrying glass bottles.
The crowd quickly became rowdy, and police had to step in to restore order.
A local resident said the scene was “frightening,” describing the noise and aggression as overwhelming.
Police initially responded to reports of a pedestrian being hit by a car, but when they arrived, they found themselves facing a full-scale street disturbance instead.
Officers Battle to Regain Control
The situation in Blackpool escalated so fast that Lancashire Police’s special constables had to call for urgent backup.
It reportedly took them nearly an hour of non-stop effort to calm the situation and push the crowd back.
One officer recalled standing “shoulder to shoulder” with six colleagues, holding the line against hundreds of intoxicated 16- and 17-year-olds.
“Our public order training was tested to the limit,” a spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said.
Despite the hostility, police managed to regain control, making one arrest for a public order offense.
The aftermath, however, was grim — the street was littered with broken glass and debris, while the house itself was left in need of major repairs.
Fireworks, Fear, and a Night of Disorder
To make matters worse, the same officers who helped calm the chaos had already faced danger earlier that evening in Fleetwood’s Memorial Park, where fireworks were reportedly fired directly at them.
Police had arrived to stop people launching fireworks at passersby, but the situation escalated fast.
“These are explosives,” a spokesperson said.
“When used this way, it becomes an extremely serious offense.”
Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage to track down those responsible for targeting officers with fireworks.
Police Praise Their Team’s Courage
After a long night of mayhem, the police praised the bravery and professionalism of their teams.
“What was left behind was a street covered in broken glass and debris — but also proof of our officers’ resilience,” one constabulary representative noted.
The spokesperson added that despite the aggression and danger, officers stood firm, protecting the community and preventing things from getting worse.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my colleagues,” they said.
“Their courage and teamwork truly shone that night.”
What Comes Next
Both Greater Manchester and Lancashire police have launched investigations to identify everyone involved in the two Halloween disturbances.
Authorities are reviewing footage, speaking with witnesses, and warning parents to stay alert about where their teenagers are spending their nights.
As police continue to piece together what happened, residents in both Radcliffe and Blackpool are left shaken — and hoping Halloween doesn’t bring this kind of chaos again anytime soon.