POLICE in a North Yorkshire town have opposed the introduction of a local law to curb under-age drinkers because they claim it may not be the answer.

Northallerton Town Council asked the police to support a by-law that would ban drinking in public, in an effort to bring an end to a spate of vandalism which it blamed on drunken youths.

Councillors claimed that over the past two years, play areas in the town had suffered 44 serious acts of vandalism.

The latest damage was caused last weekend, when a recently completed mural in the subway next to the library was attacked.

Bright cartoon characters were defaced and obscenities were daubed along the length of the tunnel.

At its monthly meeting, the town council, which owns most of the open spaces in the town, criticised police for refusing to clamp down on under-age drinking in parks.

Mayor Jack Dobson said a letter had gone to the police, asking them to support the by-law.

But he said the police had refused to support the measure because it would be too restrictive on people who wanted to enjoy a bottle of wine with their picnic in the park.

Coun Dobson said: "The police say they don't have the manpower. It is totally not on."

Councillor Rob Kennedy said: "The problem we have got is that from 8.30 until 10 at night, you can go to the Applegarth or Bankhead and you will find a stack of kids from 12 upwards, drinking cans of beer.

"These youngsters are under-age drinking, and that is a police problem.

"Once they get some drink in them, that is when they start doing the damage."

Acting Inspector John Richardson said: "We would prefer to look at a longer-term problem-solving approach with other bodies, like the town council.

"Such a by-law can be part of the answer but it is not the sole answer. In other areas where they have been introduced, they have not necessarily addressed the problem.

"It can be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, restricting everybody, not just those you are trying to target."