ALL corners of the community are swinging into action in Sedgefield to address the growing problem of nuisance youngsters.

Meetings were scheduled over the last two weeks following an apparent escalation of the issue of young people gathering in gangs, drinking alcohol and causing damage.

This week a meeting was held at Sedgefield Community College to address the issue of youngsters congregating in gangs and "intimidating" members of the public.

Durham County Cllr John Robinson organised the meeting which was attended by school representatives, police, parish and county councillors from Sedgefield and surrounding villages, Durham County Council’s One Point Service, AAP members and a resident.

He said: “Everybody recognised there was an issue and we need to deal with it.

“They came up with several different approaches they think can happen.

“The school will work with the youth service and councillors will get together to see what funding is available for youth provision.

“Police will put a letter out to reassure the residents that they are addressing the issue.”

Cllr Robinson said it was hoped communities across the area could work together to resolve the situation and stop incidents from happening again.

He added: “It’s not just for Sedgefield but all of the surrounding areas - Bishop Middleham, Fishburn, the Trimdons.

"We come up with a joint, working together approach, to see what we can do to help the young people and residents.”

An action plan is expected to be drawn up and sent out to interested parties in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, another meeting organised by residents was held last week.

Sedgefield Community Action Group formed last month and held a meeting on Thursday, October 26, with a view to tackling "proactively and productively" anti-social behaviour in the town “head-on”.

According to the group's meeting notes online, more than 40 people attended the meeting at Sedgefield Parish Hall and shared ideas about how to address anti-social behaviour.

PCSOs attended and reassured residents a number of measures were already in place to target anti-social behaviour while nine people volunteered to take part in a community warden scheme.

The group is expected to meet again this month.