A PARISH council is calling for action to combat a rocketing rise in anti-social behaviour.

On Monday night, Sgt Mark Ralphs, from Darlington police, said he believed the increase in incidents in Middleton St George was due to Hallowe'en and Mischief Night.

"The incidents of youths causing annoyance over the last two weeks have rocketed," he said. "We have had calls about kids lying in the road and throwing eggs and fireworks at cars."

Coun Mike McBride called on Darlington Borough Council to provide closed circuit television for The Square to deter loutish behaviour and catch anyone misbehaving on tape.

He said: "It is about time Darlington Council stepped up its responsibility. It should pay for the results of the planning decisions it has made in this village."

The council agreed to write to the borough council requesting CCTV facilities for the village.

Sgt Ralphs told the meeting: "We are here when we can be and we have been pushing them out of the bus shelters and trying to get them into the conversation shelters.

"Prior to the last two weeks, there has been a reduction in problems around the village and in the water park, but I know there has been a dip.

"I don't think we should get carried away. Yes, it is a problem but in Springfield Park in Darlington you can find 100 kids gathering.

"I was here last Friday night and there were hardly any kids or alcohol about."

He said two different groups of youths had been causing problems in the village.

Four children aged between nine and 11 had been identified after they threw wood at windows in the Thorntree area, and they would be visited by police.

An older group of youths who had been throwing objects at cars was proving difficult to identify because they kept running away.

Resident Morris Howie reported that he had watched cars swerve and break after objects were thrown at them.

He said he also faced verbal abuse and that one youth threatened to stab him with a knife when he confronted them.

Chairman Coun Doris Jones said: "I am at a loss for what to do. As a ward councillor, I don't think anyone could have fought harder for alternative things for them to do.

"The youth workers put on sport activities, DJ and media workshops, art and design competitions, and trips away in the summer but only one child turned up."