AN OPERATION in Darlington to target young hooligans has proved so successful it is to be repeated in the summer holidays.

Operation Buchanan, which ended on Friday, was launched after complaints about young people causing criminal damage and drinking illegally.

The initiative, a collaboration between council wardens and the police, has been hailed a success by organisers.

The number of complaints from residents about youngsters in the town has fallen since the launch on March 25.

A number of youths have also been returned to their parents by police under the scheme.

It will now be reinstated to run two weeks before the school summer holidays and until two weeks afterwards.

Senior warden Greg Riley said: "The initiative has gone well. The number of complaints has been reduced and there have been a number of young people spoken to and taken home.

"Over summer we are continuing, but in a different format. It will be a multi-agency approach and will involve wardens, police, outreach workers, the youth partnership and the community education team."

The agencies are hoping to run the scheme for ten weeks.

The police have identified problem areas in the town, which they have targeted with uniformed wardens.

Youths causing problems or drinking alcohol will be taken home or arrested, depending on the severity of their behaviour.

In recent months, there have been complaints of youths indulging in anti-social behaviour in the Cockerton area of Darlington and Middleton St George.

Councillor Bill Dixon, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for social services, said: "Our message to parents is 'Do you know where your children are? If you don't, we do and we'll be bringing them back home in a police car'."

Co-ordinator of Operation Buchanan, Acting Inspector Ian Martin, said: "Historically, the worst periods for these complaints are during the school holidays. We have targeted hot-spots where youths cause annoyance.