SECRET hide-outs used by drunken youths are to be uncovered by councillors.

Efforts will be made to clear out the water park at Middleton St George, near Darlington, where teenagers are known to hide in dens and drink alcohol.

Police dogs and plain clothed officers may also maintain a stronger presence in the park in an effort to drive out the youths and stop nuisance behaviour.

Concerned villagers filled Middleton St George's parish council meeting on Monday, to voice their concerns about the level of anti-social behaviour in the village.

One man said youths were known to play football against a wall by the water park, near houses, until two o'clock in the morning.

Council chairwoman Doris Jones said the water park had become a haunt for children, who can get into the under-growth to drink alcohol, where the police cannot find them.

"When I was in the water park recently I was horrified at the amount of alcohol bottles and litter that was there," she said.

Sergeant Mark Ralphs told the meeting there had been 11 reported cases of youths causing annoyance in the past month.

He said it was a problem that was rife across many parts of Darlington.

Coun Jones said: "It is disgraceful and we are not going to stand for it. We'll do all we can to help the residents."

Councillors agreed to look at what security measures could be implemented in the park and get estimates for cutting back the overgrown shrubs.

They also asked Sgt Ralphs to consider police dogs and plain-clothed patrols in the park late on Friday and Saturday nights, when problems tend to occur.