POLICE and town councillors are teaming up to get tough on problem youths.

Almost a quarter of recent calls to police from Tow Law were complaints about young people's behaviour, including reports of teenagers drinking and taking drugs on the streets and on the green.

Acting Sergeant Frank Hewison told a town council meeting that officers would take action.

The council's role will be to find activities to keep young people out of trouble and to consult children and their parents about the issue.

Sgt Hewison said: "Youth disorder is a significant problem in Tow Law. It is caused by a group of youths who are old enough to know better going around causing damage and upsetting people. Of 80 calls to police, 18 were youth-related.

"There will be more police in Tow Law in the evenings and we will bring in street wardens, community support officers and the anti-social behaviour team. We will do everything we can but they need something to divert them from what they do."

Council chairman Terry Batson said:"We have to make a commitment to involve the youth of Tow Law in running this community.

"They have to stop being a nuisance to us. We must be a nuisance to them and make their parents feel uncomfortable in this community."