EXTRA police patrols are planned to curb under age drinking which has been Òcreating havocÓ and making the lives of Lindford residents a misery.

The move follows Lindford Parish CouncilÕs decision to contact local police officers after hearing from residents that a small group of youngsters has been congregating in the village and drinking alcohol.

A particular trouble spot has been the Triangle with locals believing that some youths use the village youth club as an excuse to go into Lindford to meet their friends and cause problems.

This, councillors have warned, could put the future of the youth club in doubt.

Parish council chairman Ian Skelton-Smith said that a large number of broken bottles were found on the Triangle on Saturday morning.

He said: ÒIt seems a lot of youths had turned up the Friday before and gone into the youth club and created mayhem in the area of the Triangle.

ÒSome of these kids were out of their heads, running around and abusing residents.Ó

The chairman said that extra police patrols had been promised for the hours when the troublesome youngsters are often seen.

ÒSome of these children have come from Whitehill and Headley and meet here because Lindford is in the middle,Ó he said.

Councillors also heard that alcohol had been confiscated from some of the teenagers attending the youth club.

Vice chairman David Perry added: ÒI spoke to the Inspector at Whitehill because I was so incensed by what I had heard from residents, and he could not believe what I was telling him.

ÒWe have to convince people to ring the police at the time these things are happening. They do not have to give their name but just let the police know.Ó

Other councillors reinforced the fact that residents reporting incidents of underage drinkers in LindfordÕs streets do not have to give their names.

Joe Davies said: ÒIf you want a rapid response and local people feel threatened then they should ring 999. Noise nuisance is not a matter for the police but criminal damage is and threatening behaviour is.Ó

The parish council has warned that the problems could have cast doubt over the future of the youth club although no firm closure plans have been put in place.

Mr Perry said: ÒOne suggestion which has been put forward is that the youth club should be closed for a few weeks to see if that makes any difference.

ÒMy own personal view is why should the young people who behave themselves be penalised for those few who misbehave.Ó

Mr Skelton-Smith promised that the council would do all it could to bring to an end the problems. He said : ÒI will talk to the youth club organisers and see if we can do anything to help.

ÒThis kind of thing puts at risk the youth club and people fear that the same thing would happen when we install our new play equipment.Ó

Whitehill police Inspector Gerry Thorne confirmed that his officers would be spending time tackling underage drinking.