YOUNG yobs have been targeting street wardens by throwing bottles and other missiles at them while they patrol housing estates.

Over the past four weeks, five attacks have been reported by the team, which was set up to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by groups of young people.

Middlesbrough Council says the attacks must stop before someone is seriously hurt and is urging people to support their street wardens.

"The wardens have been made welcome by the vast majority of people across the town, who want to see them as a reassuring presence in the community," said Ed Chicken, head of the council's community protection service.

"I am sure they will join us in condemning these attacks by a small hooligan minority.

"No one has been hurt in these incidents but they need to stop now, and two people have already been identified.

"I would encourage everyone who wants Middlesbrough to be a better, safer place to support the wardens in their work."

The street warden service started last summer and has 40 staff working across Middlesbrough to identify litter hotspots and intervene in situations where individuals become unruly.

Mayor Ray Mallon wants to double the number of wardens by the end of the year as part of his plan for the town.

The street wardens have played an integral part in reducing crime and the fear of crime in the town and have helped the police gather information, providing evidence in court cases as well as applications for anti-social behaviour orders.

They have also organised football tournaments for local youngsters and a pensioners' Christmas parcel run.

People can help the wardens by keeping their area free of litter and by passing on information about local louts to the police.

Superintendent Steve Ashman, of Cleveland Police, said: "The street wardens are a boon to the community and front line police officers with whom they work closely.

"We will take any incident in which a warden is threatened just as seriously as if it was a police officer, so the perpetrators should be warned."