A FOOTBALL-mad bobby has come up with a novel way to tackle troublemakers.

PC Kevin Stockley is issuing yellow and red cards to rowdy youths as he attempts to kick offenders on his beat into touch.

The officer, who regularly tours his patch on his mountain bike, began doling out the warnings after a colleague, who is a referee, gave him a set of cards.

His first yellow card was shown to a group of youths hanging around the Teal Arms pub in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton.

He said: "I got the card out, gave them a warning and told them that a second yellow card means an anti-social behaviour notice and if I found them committing an arrestable offence, it would mean a red card.

"Everyone knows it's an official warning when the referee gives out a yellow card on the pitch - and they know what the consequences are if that warning is ignored. I have just adapted it to suit the policing needs on my beat - and it works."

He said one youth was given the yellow card and was later spotted hanging around outside shops.

"As soon as he saw me, he was away - shouting that he didn't want another yellow card.

"There is humour involved in it too, because it breaks the ice and gets young people to open up and talk to you. But the serious side is the message that bad behaviour will not be tolerated and the young people on my beat know I mean business."