A teenage boy was forced to hide in the toilets of a McDonald's restaurant as he was chased by a group believed to be carrying knives, eyewitnesses claim.
Shocked onlookers reacted with fear and anger when the group were seen running into the Leyland branch of the American fast food giant on Monday evening.
According to one witness, one member of the group stole a man's car keys when he tried to intervene as they dispersed through the streets.
Around the same time, neighbours on streets near to the Churchill Way McDonald's reported seeing boys jumping through the gardens as they scattered away from the scene.
Police were called to the the restaurant when the group first appeared, only for them to run off and then later return to the scene.
One witness told LancsLive there were "lads running around with knives" and that the boy being chased was asked if he wanted someone to call a parent but declined. They added that the boy also fled the scene when he found out the police were coming.
The witness said: "A group of lads was chasing a young lad so he had to hide in McDonald’s toilets and he was scared then he said the lads had knives on them so McDonald’s rang the police and then the group of lads robbed a guys car keys when he pulled up to do something. Then the police stopped a guy and searched him but the lads ran off with the keys as well."
They said that they group were chased by police but did not see if any arrests were made, adding that the group returned later in the evening.
Lancs Live contacted Lancashire Constabulary and McDonald's for comment.
