A UNITED front has been forged between residents, councillors, the police and government to stamp out anti-social behaviour in Darlington.

The town's MP, Alan Milburn, has called on residents to work with the authorities and agencies to isolate perpetrators who are making some residents' lives a misery.

Holding his first meeting in Darlington as part of Labour's "Big Conversation", Mr Milburn addressed a crowd of 50 people in St Andrew's Church Hall, Haughton, including ward councillors and borough council leader Councillor John Williams.

"Anti-social behaviour is the number one issue that I get more complaints about than anything else," he said.

"This is a problem for the whole community - if we are going to crack it then we are only going to crack it together."

Sitting in small groups, with a facilitator at each table, people talked about their own experiences with youths at Thursday's meeting.

Issues included children gathering in gangs, drunken behaviour, vandalism, graffiti and harassment.

One woman expressed her deep concern for elderly people living in the Harrowgate Hill area of the town.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the MP that large groups of youths, aged from seven to 16, would repeatedly harass pensioners, including her aunt.

"I've seen about thirty of them harass an elderly, deaf man in his own home, taunting him," she said.

Harry Watson, of Hutton Avenue, Haughton, recalled a common scenario of youths drinking cider, throwing things and urinating.

Another couple had witnessed youths breaking into a car and syphoning petrol into a plastic bottle.

The two-hour meeting also focused on finding answers to the problems, with many suggesting youth clubs, activities and facilities to keep young people occupied and off the streets.

Residents also wanted to take a more active role, working with police to pinpoint the perpetrators and help to stop incidents of nuisance behaviour.

All feedback will be used on a local level, by councillors and police, as well as helping to shape Labour's manifesto for the next General Election.

"I think it was a very positive meeting and a positive example of engaging with local people about a very important issue," said Councillor Chris McEwan, of Haughton East ward.