A CONTROVERSIAL six foot high security fence built to tackle teens damaging a £78,000 play area has been deemed a success.

Troublemakers targeted the Flatts Walk play area, in Sowerby, near to Thirsk, where they smashed empty booze bottles.

The youths also damaged the play equipment there including to trying to set fire to a £6,000 youth shelter.

Sowerby Parish Council who runs the park and it erected the fence, with lockable gates, to tackle the issue last year.

The venture cost £25,000 and it was criticised by some locals but six months later several residents have told the council it has helped to tackle the problem.

Councillor David Murkett said: "It has proved a success and people are saying so.

"I just hope that the people who have criticised and opposed it have the guts to come and apologise and to say that they were wrong."

The play equipment fitted is aimed for youngsters aged 14 and under but older teens had been seen in the park until 3am on occasions.

Prominent amongst the critics were Don Cartridge and Steve Hoyland, both former members of the parish council.

Mr Cartridge said: "We still think it was great mistake and a considerable cost and it’s ugly.

"I have been round the country to far more urban areas than Thirsk and Sowerby and I’ve never seen any other play area with a fence as large and threatening.

"They could have got a little fence to keep dogs out but not the people and it looks like a prison camp.

"I think it’s a disgusting way to treat the young people of Thirsk when the problems were due to a small minority."