PARENTS have been warned they will be forced to take lessons in looking after their unruly children if they can not control their behaviour.

Darlington police issued the warning after there was a spate of incidents over the weekend where teenagers were causing a nuisance.

Over the last few days, a group of youths have been gathering in Kwik Fit car park at the junction of North Road and Thompson Road East.

Police received six calls on Sunday about the drunken behaviour of the youngsters who were shouting abuse at passers-by, fighting and kicking a ball across the busy road into the path of on-coming cars.

The police have received complaints about the group before and some have been charged with criminal behaviour. Warnings have been issued to others.

Det Insp Ian Phillips of Darlington police said: "Children who are not charged will be brought home to their parents who will have to suffer the embarrassment.

"If a child is charged, the parents will automatically be given a compulsory parenting order where they will spend 12 weeks learning how to control their children.

"There are problems all over town and I would say to parents - do you know where your children are and what they are doing?"

Also over the weekend there were reports of more trouble for bus drivers in the Skerne Park area of town.

Bus companies have threatened to withdraw services from the estate because of trouble. Some drivers have had missiles thrown at vehicles and drivers and buses have been attacked.

In the latest incidents, a gang of youths got onto a bus on and started hurling abuse to the driver.

He managed to eject the gang and called the police.

Darlington police have also been inundated by calls from people whose homes and cars have been pelted with eggs.

The latest attacks were in Ettersgill Drive, Darlington and Collyers Close, Hurworth.

Det Insp Phillips said: "Youths can buy half a dozen eggs for a few pence. They have their fun throwing the eggs at moving cars or at windows and then run off when their ammunition runs out.

"These kind of nuisance crimes will not be tolerated and charges can be brought."