Northallerton'S mayor has acted quickly after the latest bout of vandalism to hit the town by setting up a meeting to start thrashing out the problem.

Coun Jack Dobson says he will be calling for community wardens as part of the campaign against the yobs. He also wants to see a by-law banning alcohol in public places and the return of community police officers.

The mayor's move follows an incident last week in which vandals ripped up a heavy picnic table which was given to the town as a millennium gift.

The incident was the latest in an escalating catalogue of trouble.

Concrete foundations holding down the table on the Applegarth car park are so heavy it is felt a large number of youths must have been involved.

The multi-agency meeting will be held on September 5 at the town hall, chaired by Coun Dobson. Delegates will include representatives from the town council, police, Broadacres, Hambleton Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

"We need a strategy so that all the different agencies have their own tasks," said Coun Dobson. "I will be calling for community wardens, allowed under EC rules and fully funded by Europe. Northallerton needs this kind of facility."

The mayor says those responsible for vandalism should be given community service orders to repair the damage.

He also feels the problem has got worse since the time when the town had police beat officer Peter King. "We badly need a town bobby," he said.

Coun Dobson blames under-age drinking for much of the trouble and wants to see a by-law banning alcohol in public places.

He said the town council would consider this as a matter of urgency.

The picnic table - which was left upside down on the grass - was given to the town by the millennium committee. Two large holes were left where the foundations had been.

In the aftermath, Sgt Geoff Bush said high-profile patrols would now be implemented at the Applegarth and Bullamoor Park areas