YOUTHS are suspected of smashing street lights on a Darlington estate so they can hunt for foxes in the dark.

Residents told a meeting in Lascelles Park that there was a problem with youths throwing stones at lights in an effort to extinguish them.

Councillor Wendy Newall said she had also heard that teenagers with dogs were putting out the lights so they could hunt and shoot foxes.

The local authority, police and animal welfare chiefs said they were now keeping a close watch on the situation.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: "In the run-up to Christmas, there were a lot of problems with street lights in Lascelles Park.

"We were getting calls all the time. We'd heard those rumours about the fox hunting too, but it's not something we know for sure."

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said there had been incidents of criminal damage in the area recently.

"We are aware of the fact that, over the last few weeks, there has been an increasing number of young people causing problems in the estate," she said.

"That does not necessarily mean that people are hunting for foxes, but we are aware of the problems and are putting into place schemes to deal with them."

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said that she was unaware of the claims, but said that action could be taken if the allegations were found to be true.

"There is obviously an animal welfare issue here and the RSPCA can prosecute if we can prove an animal has suffered inhumanely," she said.

"Our difficulty would be proving that the claims are true and getting there quickly enough, but it's certainly something we will look into.

"It is also illegal now to use an air rifle unsupervised in a public place if you are under 17."

She appealed to anybody who does see any evidence of foxes being hunted in the town to contact the RSPCA on 08705 555999.