POLICE have reassured residents on a Darlington estate plagued by tearaway youths that they will get a new beat bobby.

On behalf of some of the people on the estate, Lascelles Park Residents' Association wrote to Darlington Chief Superintendent Michael Banks detailing their deep concerns about out-of-control youngsters on the estate.

The letter said youths were verbally abusing elderly people, breaking into cars, garages and sheds, vandalising St John's Primary School, throwing stones, stealing workmen's tools, burning out cars, climbing on to buildings, riding motorbikes through the estate, and playing loud music.

The association wrote: "These incidents, some we know are actual crimes, affect the quality of life for the law-abiding residents on the estate."

The letter said residents were surprised and dismayed that the estate had lost both its beat officer, PC Neil Walton, and police community support officer (PCSO), John Angus, at the same time.

The association wrote: "At no point were we consulted on this. Both officers had built up very good, trusting relationships with residents and had a very good knowledge of the estate's geography and its problems.

"We feel that these officers contributed not only to reduce anti-social behaviour but also helped in the battle to address the fear of crime." Chief Supt Banks could not be contacted for comment but Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington's community policing team, said she was advertising for a new dedicated beat officer for the estate.

In the meantime, Bank Top's beat officer is covering his own patch and Lascelles Park.

"This is a very temporary arrangement," said Insp Collingwood. "Obviously as police managers we have to make decisions in deployment of staff.

"We have got a limited number of beat officers and we have got to put them in places we think are most important.

"Lascelles is still a priority area for us.

"One of the PCSOs starting in the next few weeks is going to be going into the Lascelles and Firthmoor area and they were always going to get a beat officer back."

The residents' association annual meeting last week heard that 200 signatures had been collected in two days for a petition to support the letter.