ACTION is to be taken to tackle the problem of drunken youths congregating in a town's parks.

A meeting of interested groups, including councillors, police, schools and neighbourhood watch representatives, is to be held before Christmas to discuss how to deal with what is an escalating problem on the town.

Councillor Alan Gray brought the matter to the attention of Great Aycliffe Town Council after a recent Friday night incident at Woodham Park.

He said: "There were youths drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and the next day I got complaints about the state of the park.

"It was unbelievable. It was littered with cans, but even worse was the children's soft play area which was covered in glass.

"Bottles had been deliberately smashed and we had to get it cleared up because we would have had little toddlers at risk."

On another occasion there were reported to be 50 to 100 teenage boys and girls congregating in the area.

It is a problem that Coun Gray said was repeated in parks throughout the town and across the country.

He believes the events are organised, and fears large amounts of alcohol are being delivered to the venues by adults in cars.

He said: "This problem is escalating and it is becoming well organised. I believe there are 13 and 14-year-old boys and girls being supplied with alcohol. It leads to damage and a great deal of resentment from residents having to put up with this."

The town council is taking a hard line against vandalism and has warned that anybody caught damaging its property will be prosecuted.

"If we get information and we think there's a chance of getting a conviction, we will definitely prosecute," he said.

"We are faced month after month with bills for vandalism and we need to tackle it, possibly through the courts.

"It's the ratepayers who have to pick up the bill for this and we are going to look at ways of solving this problem.

"That could mean lighting in parks, or fencing round play areas, both of which are expensive.