RESIDENTS who say their lives are being made a misery by gangs of youths believe a planned amusement arcade would make things even worse.

For at least the past 12 months, Blackhills Road, in Horden, has been a focus of anti-social behaviour by youths.

Following residents' complaints, the police have drafted an action plan for the area and have logged incidents, including a report of 20 young people vandalising a phone box, youngsters on a shop roof refusing to get down, and wheelie bins being set alight.

Now an application has been submitted to Easington District Council to convert a former solicitor's office in Blackhills Road into an amusement arcade.

It has prompted seven letters of objection and a petition bearing 25 signatures. Concerns have also been raised by Durham Constabulary and local ward councillors.

Horden South councillor Colin Reynolds said: "I'm totally behind the people who are making objections because they are fed up with youths congregating, taking drugs, drinking, and climbing over the TSB bank and the offices.

"They are there until about 10.30 or 11pm and we can get 40 youths at a time. They are terrifying the old people."

Coun Reynolds said an amusement arcade would only encourage more youngsters to congregate.

"We would be over the moon if it was a shop, but this is the last thing the area needs," he said.

"Youths will be straight in and they will be congregating there."

In support of the plans, the applicant has told the council that the arcade would be open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with only the over-18s permitted entry. It would employ local staff and a caf serving good food at a low cost would be included.

However, a report to the council's development control and licensing panel, which meets today, states: "It is considered that on balance, the proposals will be likely to be detrimental to the amenities of residents and would be harmful to the public's confidence by increasing the fear of crime."

It recommends that the application be refused.