A GANG of teenagers barged into a clothes shop and went on a rampage, threatening staff, hiding under tables and causing havoc in the changing rooms.

The ruckus broke out on Thursday at Pretty Vacant clothes shop in Brighton’s Trafalgar Street.

Shop assistant Rossella Cirillo was alone when the six rowdy teenagers burst in.

She said: “One of them fell in through the front door. He collapsed and seemed unwell so I asked if he was OK and went over to help.

“Suddenly the others all poured in after him asking for the bathroom. I said we don’t have one customers are insured to use but they just barged past.

“They were either drunk or very high. They were doing whatever they wanted. They started to hide in the changing rooms, and then they began crawling around on the floor. It was so weird. One held a phone and it looked like he was filming. They were treating the place it as if they owned it.

“I felt so intimidated. I was trying to protect the till and everything we have here – the keys, the computer, my bag. I felt like I had to stay, but I was scared.”

Miss Cirillo then began asking the teenagers to leave.

She said: “I asked them very politely at first. I was sweating. Then I raised my voice.

“I said ‘You need to leave right now or I’m going to call the police’.

“I think if it had been a man they would have listened. I wanted to be strong, but I felt vulnerable.”

Miss Cirillo said they paid no attention and began rushing in and out of the shop.

She said: Three came in through one door and three through the other.

“I couldn’t lock one because they’d come in though the other side.

“The thing that scared me more than anything was when they were leaving and I finally managed to lock the door, they told me they would be back for me at 6pm.

“There were five teenage boys and one girl. They were only about 15 years old, but it was so threatening.”

Trafalgar Street has had a spate of break-ins recently. Last week, a gang of thieves ransacked The Laine Deli, smashing their way in with a crowbar as they tried crack open the cafe’s safe.

Miss Cirillo said: “It’s happened too many times. I’ve worked here for one year and in that time we’ve had other situations with very drunk or very high people. I just don’t know what to do.

“Hopefully telling others about it will help. I don’t understand why they don’t install a camera on the street, or at least have lights when it gets dark.”

Sussex Police said it had received reports of “youths being rowdy and moving things around the shop”.

The force said it had offered advice on dealing with anti-social behaviour and explained what to do if the group return.