TOWN centre traders and police officers have come up with an action plan to clamp down on unruly youths in Newton Aycliffe.

The town beat team stepped up patrols in Aycliffe shopping centre in the run-up to Christmas to cut shoplifting and ask youngsters to leave the area after dark.

Centre manager Bryan Haldane said the patrols, along with a Shop Watch scheme linking businesses to the police via radio, helped the town enjoy a relatively crime-free festive period.

But since late January, the town has taken a step backwards and has seen a rise in vandalism including considerable damage to shops, offices and elevators.

The police and town centre managers are pooling resources to combat the problems and have drawn up an action plan to try to create a better environment.

Beat officer PC Helen Young said: "We are determined to target problems of anti-social behaviour in the town.

"There is an element still hanging around off-licences, pestering customers to buy alcohol for them, getting drunk, urinating in the street and leaving litter behind.

"Most recently, plants have been ripped out of planters so we are reviewing security camera footage to find who was responsible.

"It is making the town an intimidating place for visitors to the leisure facilities or takeaways."

Parents are being asked to help clamp down on underage drinking by deterring young people from congregating in the town centre.

Closed circuit television coverage of the town could be extended to cover car parks and enclosed spaces.

Other suggestions are to improved street lighting and erect lockable gates at the multi-storey car park. New warning signs will be put up around the town urging youngsters to behave within the mall's rules or face prosecution.

Those convicted, and their parents, could even be pursued in civil courts to recover the costs of any damage.

Mr Haldane said: "We want young people to take advantage of facilities such as the leisure centre, new town park and youth centre rather than hanging around the precinct in gangs."