HOPES that a stronger police presence in a Darlington borough village would bring an end to anti-social behaviour were dashed over the weekend.

By Friday morning of last week, there had been no reports of youths causing annoyance in Middleton St George for ten days - a relief for residents who have long suffered the backlash of young people drinking, taking drugs and causing mischief in the village.

On Friday, night the gang of youths returned, drinking cider in the village and intimidating residents.

PC James Calvert, of Darlington Police, said officers were alerted to a group of about 15 teenagers starting to congregate at 6.30pm on Friday.

At 8.20pm, a resident reported that the gang had been verbally abusive and acting in a drunken manner by the railway line.

The move to increase police patrols came last month after incidents of anti-social behaviour rocketed, with youths throwing eggs at cars, lying in the road and making threats.

A particular hotspot for gangs of youths hanging around is the village's water park, where young people have been known to hide in bushes drinking alcohol.

Parish council chairman and Darlington borough councillor Doris Jones said the problem of anti-social behaviour in the village had reached crisis point, forcing the council to take drastic measures.

"The water park is a recreational facility for the village - but it has turned into a no-go area because of the kids," she said.

"We have had to put it into private management so that it is manned 24 hours a day and staff can look out for any trouble.

"The village is seriously short of space and the one place the parish council is in control of was being overtaken by youths and we couldn't stand back and let that happen.

"It is sad because most of them in the village are good young children - we are conscious that we don't want all kids stamped with the same label."

The parish council is installing security cameras at its newly-refurbished meeting room and wants more cameras in the village square.