POLICE have defended their efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in a remote area.

Extra patrols were mounted at Hawes, in upper Wensleydale, after the issue was raised at a parish forum last month.

But Councillor John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council, said people were still not satisfied with the police response.

He said vandals had attacked the Holme bus shelter, a seat in Gayle and a phone box in Hardraw, which was damaged by a home-made petrol bomb.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is to close its public toilets in Hawes because of vandalism.

Coun Blackie has now written to Chief Superintendent Bernie Mitchell, western area police commander, about the matter.

"Local people do not feel there has been an adequate police response," said Coun Blackie. He said that the Hawes community policeman should "sign on" for duty in the town instead of at Leyburn and should keep the patrol car at his home in Bainbridge, and not at Leyburn.

Leyburn Sergeant Allan Harder said: "I attended the parish meeting where Councillor Blackie raised a number of concerns and police have patrolled accordingly."

Councillor Yvonne Peacock, of Addlebrough ward, in Wensleydale, said policing had improved, adding: "The police and Richmondshire community safety partnership have done a lot of good work in the upper dale."