FERAL youths who have been banned from the UK’s “worst” KFC are holding the town hostage, locals have claimed.

“Evil” gangs of 30 to 40 youths are running riot in the Kent town of Sittingbourne  – where locals have been forced to leave their jobs and homes because of the problem.

Much of the chaos focuses on the area around its KFC at a retail park, which has so many problems it does not let unaccompanied under 18s inside after 4pm on weekdays or from noon on Saturdays and Sundays.

Security guards work round the clock manning the doors to keep order at the restaurant.

Youths are starting fights, going on vandalising sprees, using catapults to sling stones at cars and properties and throwing plants and debris behind the KFC counter.

Carnage there has spread to the surrounding areas where police have been forced to bring in dispersal orders to tackle the problem.

Locals say youths on bikes are often entering the nearby Morrisons store and terrifying customers of all ages.

KFC team leader Awaiz Khaliu told The Sun Online: “It’s mayhem here.

“All year it has been hell. They are throwing stones at car windows and smashing them.

“It’s mob rule. There’s 30 or 40 of them. It’s very scary. I’m terrified and so are the customers.

“They use slingshots to hurl stones at car windows as well. It’s caused so much damage.

“People have left their job here because they cannot cope and people have moved out of the area. People cannot cope.

“They are going to Homebase and getting plants and coming into the restaurant and being very intimidating and then launching them across the counter.”

Tom Grey, who has lived in the town centre for six years, described the youths as “evil” and “feral”.

The 65-year-old said: “They are out of control. They are in gangs of 30 and it’s very intimidating.

“I shop here at Morrisons and I do not feel safe. They were ripping down a sign one day and I confronted them and they started on me and yelled abuse and threats at me. They were starting on me.

“If you’re looking for the worst place for out of control youths in Britain you have probably found it.

“It’s a disgrace what they can do. They are evil.

“They are monsters.

“They make the lives of people working at Morrisons hell.”

Tom said he felt the town was held to “ransom” to them.

He added: “It’s here at Morrisons, the KFC and the town centre.”

Bosede Fallis, 71, is a frequent Morrisons shopper and has seen the mayhem first-hand.

She said: “I have seen security chase youths away because of the problems they are causing. It’s a huge problem.”

One shopper, who works as a teacher and was too afraid to give their name, said: “It’s hell on earth.

“I do not feel safe. They are constantly smashing car windows with stones around here, egging vehicles and starting fights. They are out of control.”

Another said: “The police brought a mobile police van down here once and made a big song and dance about it but we don’t see much of them. It feels like everyone has given up.”

Derek Wise, 75, said the problem has worsened in recent months. The retired engineer said: “How sad is it that KFC has to employ bouncers because of how bad it is?

“What is going on? It’s very bad.”

Matthew Barehanm, 50, who lives in the town and works as a DJ said it was “terrible”.

He added: “They cause big problems on their scooters. People do not feel safe.

“They are causing traffic problems on their bikes and throwing stones.”

A KFC spokesperson previously said: “Safety has always been our top priority and we simply do not tolerate any violence towards our guests or team members.

“Our Sittingbourne restaurant has seen some recent behaviour from guests that the Colonel wouldn’t be proud of and so for the time being any under 18’s visiting on weekdays from 4pm, and weekends from 12pm must be accompanied by an adult.”

Kent Police issued a dispersal order across the town’s high street and retail park – where the KFC is based – in May and June.

And Sittingbourne’s Morrisons had to bring in CCTV to deal with anti-social youths.