A CAMPAIGN has been launched to shut down a youth caf after complaints from traders of yobbish behaviour.

Town centre shopkeeers in Kirkgate, Ripon, say that Ripskys youth caf is in the wrong place and that they are losing business.

Jim Vauvert's shop, Crafty Beggars, is directly opposite the caf.

Despite his son working as an assistant at Ripskys, the vice-chair of Kirkgate Traders' Association is one of about 40 people to have signed a petition calling for the business to be closed.

He said: "They congregate outside spitting, swearing, play fighting and intimidating people.

"This is a lovely little street in between the market place and the cathedral but people don't come down it because of the caf. It's a wonderful concept - but it's just in the wrong position."

The petition was handed to Councillor Bernard Bateman, chairman of Ripon City Partnership, at a meeting of the traders' association on Thursday night.

Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Stuart Martin, hopes to arrange a meeting next Thursday with traders, caf youth workers, the police and Harrogate Borough Council officials to find a solution to the problem.

He said: "If we can get everybody round the table there must be something we can come up with between us.

"Whether it closes down, relocates or stays where it is, something has to be done."

Sergeant Chas Petty, from Ripon Police, said: "A representative from North Yorkshire Police will be attending the meeting to discuss the way forward and see if we can find some common ground."

Mel Greaves, from Harrogate Community Safety Partnership, will also be attending the meeting to hear both sides of the dispute.

The caf opened in May last year to provide a friendly and relaxed environment for teenagers.

During the day, it offers careers advice, young mums' groups and education provision for young people not in school.

In the evening, it runs drop-in sessions, plus Internet and other workshops.

Manager of Ripskys Richard Hughes, did not want to comment yesterday when The Northern Echo contacted him, saying "it would not help the situation".