HOMEOWNERS have been told that children have a right to play on the street.

Anti-social behaviour officers at a council have issued the statement to residents complaining about children playing.

However, the officers have also offered guidance on how to react should children's behaviour become a nuisance.

Hartlepool Borough Council has issued the advice at the beginning of the school summer holidays when problems with football kickabouts often come to a head on estates.

Rebecca Buttery, one of the council's anti-social behaviour officers, said: "We are trying to foster a bit of tolerance and understanding on both sides. Youngsters do have a right to play safely in a reasonable manner near their homes in sight of their parents or carers, but residents also have a right to be able to expect some peace and quiet in their own homes."

The advice issued to householders by the council's anti-social behaviour unit includes: speaking to children and explaining why and how their behaviour is causing problems, informing their parents or carers, telling children their parents should retrieve balls that fall in their property in order for the parent to appreciate how frequently it is happening, agree to compromise with the children on a mutually convenient time for the football to stop.