PARENTS of underage drinkers have been spotted dropping off alcohol for them at a park.

Police in Redcar, east Cleveland, are stepping up patrols in parts of the town following reports of youths drinking alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

Officers say they have received reports of parents buying alcohol for their children and some even taking it to them in the park.

Local youths are gathering in the West Dyke Ward around Holyhead Park and The Ings. They have been joined by youngsters from Saltburn, Marske and Dormanstown and have been seen drinking alcohol and causing criminal damage to vehicles and properties.

PC Kelly Jarvis, of Cleveland Police, said: "Residents are fearful to leave their homes when the gangs are gathering due to the verbal abuse and threats they are receiving."

Dave Hogg, crimes and disorder programme manager for Balance, the recently established North-East alcohol office, added: "The ongoing operation in the Redcar and Cleveland area is a very positive response to the rising problem posed by young people binge drinking.

"While statistics show that fewer young people are drinking, the evidence reveals that those that do so are drinking more.

"I know that alcohol plays a big role in the majority of cases that the police deal with, and that excessive drinking can turn ordinary people into criminals or victims of crime, particularly violent crime.

"Young people are especially vulnerable so this kind of initiative is particularly important."

In recent weeks police have seized large amounts of alcohol from youths at Holyhead Park and all names obtained have been stored on a police register and passed to the anti-social behaviour team.

Last month a study revealed that almost three quarters of parents in Billingham, near Stockton, know their under-age children drink alcohol.

Research carried out among 200 young people in Billingham, uncovered the information, which also saw a third of the youngsters admit that family members had bought alcohol for them in the past.

And in July last year parents were spotted taking children as young as eight to all-night drinking sessions in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

In this incident some of the youths even took sleeping bags because they were too drunk to make it home.