NINE children were escorted back to their homes by police officers following an “absolutely shocking” rammy in a Largs supermarket.

Townsfolk looked on in horror as youngsters reportedly hurled verbal abuse at Morrisons staff, with claims one person was also physically attacked.

The kids are said to have damaged items, tore bags of compost and threw the dirt around, and broke flowerpots during the incident at the Irvine Road store on Saturday night.

The youths involved are thought to be aged between 11 and 13 and are understood to have travelled to the area from elsewhere.

Two other incidents of youth disturbance have recently been reported to police. In one case water was thrown on a member of the public and in another case a group of 12 boys were caught throwing eggs and stones at vehicles.

A community councillor has suggested free bus travel should be revoked if those using the passes are causing trouble elsewhere.

A witness to the Morrisons incident told the News: “The staff faced horrendous abuse. It was one of the worst things I have ever seen.

“They were children tormenting staff and shouting abuse at them in broad daylight.

“I am led to believe one staff member got punched.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed they responded to the disturbance, adding: “Officers attended and a total of nine children were returned home to their parents and advice was provided. Further enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.”

A spokesperson for Morrisons said they were assisting police with their enquiries.

In a separate incident on Sunday, August 27 police received a report of abusive harassing language and water being thrown from a moving vehicle at a member of public on Irvine Road.

A Largs Police spokesperson said: “We take a dim view of this. Members of the public should be able to go about their business without un-provoked harassment.”

On August 21, near Bath Street, witnesses claimed a group of around 12 boys, aged 15 to 18, were throwing eggs at cars and throwing stones at windows.

Sergeant Donald Fisher, of Largs Police, said: “Where possible we are targeting our patrols at the appropriate times the youths appear at.

“If people are being harassed by groups of youth disorder, please do inform us.”

Andy Adair, Largs Community Councillor, said: “The thing that gets me is that kids that age, who don’t belong to this town, what are their parents thinking?

“And how are these young kids coming from other areas - how are they getting here? Is it free bus travel? We have also heard over recent month of bother on the trains.

“I think personally it is wrong giving kids free bus travel if they are causing disruption in other areas.”

Some Morrisons Supermarkets in the west of Scotland have imposed a rules that children cannot enter their store without an adult being present after 5pm at night, but the News understand this is not something which is being considered locally.

Mr Adair added: “Something has to be done as we can’t allow these kids to run riot and need to find some way to stop them from doing those things.”

Contact police on 101 to report an incident or call 999 in an emergency.