DRUNKEN teenagers causing trouble in a village have prompted councillors to take direct action.

They are concerned that groups of youngsters, many in their early teens, are regularly gathering in Sadberge, near Darlington, and drinking.

Councillors said it was often empty alcohol bottles and litter that denoted the youths' presence and there had been cases of vandalism.

At a meeting of Sadberge Parish Council this week members decided to tackle the issue before it got out of hand.

Council chairman Millie Scaife said troublesome youngsters tended to gather in the bus stop or near the church to drink at weekends or on the nights of the bimonthly disco, organised by the Village Hall Association.

"Of the 150 kids that are going to these dances, 120 have a good time but 30 of them cause trouble. They are hiding away in places and drinking," she said.

Arthur Sanders, of the village post office, said the village hall had had 27 of its windows broken recently.

"We know who did it but it is a serious problem. I have banned them from my shop," he said.

A partnership has been set up between the parish council and the police, with the involvement of the Village Hall Association, to crack down on anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.

PC Boyd Rowe, beat officer for Sadberge, said: "If we know when and where they are gathering then we will be able to go along when possible and deal with the specific problem."

But he warned that it was not easy to overcome the problem in the short-term and said there was a fine line between youngsters gathering in groups and those who caused trouble.

"It is not an offence for them to hang around. But clearly when kids are drinking and causing damage then that is a problem," he said.

The council plans to set up a meeting with the Village Hall Association and to monitor anti-social behaviour to help police know where to find the gangs of youths.