A PARTNERSHIP set-up to tackle anti-social problems in the countryside has vowed to continue the fight.

Police, Yorkshire Water, the National Trust and North York Moors National Park joined forces to reduce vandalism, littering and illegal camping around Cod Beck reservoir and Scarth Wood Moor, near Osmotherley, in July 2003.

The agencies say the situation has improved since then.

Alison Oldfield, from Hambleton Community Safety Partnership, said police issued 17 tickets and 46 warnings for illegal parking on the May 30 bank holiday, and moved on 12 illegal campers.

She said: "The partnership has worked together to get the clearway order and cut down on illegal parking. The new policing teams mean officers can spend a lot more time over there to crack down on illegal camping."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: "We are confident that, if the partnership continues to work together, the people who are responsible for this irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour will finally get the message."

A spokesman for Osmotherley Parish Council said: "Police have been patrolling on bikes, so we hope that will do some good. Parking has improved, but unfortunately that is just one part of the problem. Litter and vandalism continue to be a problem, as seen by the partly-drained reservoir, which now has a 12-foot tide mark of litter."