SPINNING A WEB OF VIOLENCE

The disturbing images - posted on a website for city teenagers - show youngsters, most with their faces covered by caps and hooded tops, imitating the swagger of US gangster rappers.

Youths pointing weapons at the camera are mounted on a backdrop of images of guns, knives, bullets, knuckledusters, cannabis leaves and graffiti.

In the most shocking images:

A youth poses with a huge rifle in the kitchen of a house

A gang of four hoodies, their faces covered, brandish a terrifying arsenal of knives

A babyfaced boy points a handgun at the camera

A teenager punches a clenched fist covered with a knuckleduster.

Police today pledged to do all they can to shut down the 'Sheffield City Soljaz' website, which contains images and profiles posted by teenagers based in 15 locations across the city.

"Police in Sheffield are aware of the website and work is on going to identify people involved and to close it down," a police spokeswoman said.

"We are mindful that there are numerous outlets for this type of communication and are looking at ways to prevent these websites being made."

The gangs have names including Pitsmoor Soljaz, Shirecliffe Boiz, Darnall Mob and the Aston Crew.

Postcode areas covered by the site are S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S8, S9, S10, S12, S13, S14, S20, S21 and S26.

Coun Mazher Iqbal, Sheffield Council's cabinet adviser for community safety, said he was shocked by the site.

"This is deplorable," he said. "What shocks me is that there are young people of this age glorifying gang violence. This site just reinforces all the sterotypes you read about in the media - young people with guns and knives - when we are working hard to get young people to work together."

Coun Iqbal said he had spoken to police chiefs and would raise the issue with council colleagues.

He said pupils were unable to access the site in city schools - which suggested youngsters were updating it instead on home computers.

"We are going to have to do more raise awareness among parents about using the internet appropriately."

One concerned Arbourthorne resident, who recognised youths from his area on the site, told The Star: "This is a shocking website which fuels violence and criminal activity.

"It is ridiculous that something like this can be allowed. I can't see any good reason why it shouldn't be shut down."

The website is hosted by Piczo.com which provides webspace for teens in a "safe social networking environment".

The company says it takes law enforcement seriously and urges users to get in touch about "inappropriate content or images".