THE MAYOR of Highworth says a night-time curfew could be the answer to the town's anti-social behaviour problems.

Coun Ken Poulton has been impressed with the results of a curfew imposed in Teeside.

For the next six months, police in Redcar are escorting home youngsters found on the streets between 9pm and 6am.

Curfews have also been imposed in Middlesborough and Wigton.

Coun Poulton said similar measures could be used in Highworth if unruly youths continued to be a menace.

"If the problems get really bad and out of control, I would certainly like to see a curfew imposed," he said. There is a total lack of respect among some of our young people."

Over the past fortnight, the town has suffered from a wave of vandalism and rowdy behaviour.

Last month, the Evening Advertiser reported how former magistrate Carmel Gilmore had been targeted.

Yobs smashed windows at the 89-year-old's High Street home on three occasions in less than a week, and her son-in-law, Brigadier Kenneth Burke, moved in to help protect the property.

There have also been problems at the town's new Co-op and library complex in Brewery Street.

Eggs have been thrown at the library doors, staff have been attacked with stones and foul-mouthed youths have hurled abuse at readers.

Lighting bollards at St Michael's Church were also vandalised recently and there have been problems with youngsters climbing on the roofs of Eastrop and Westrop primary schools.

Coun Poulton said: "The police are aware of what is going on, and when they are on foot patrols the problems are not as bad."

Highworth has suffered from vandal problems before.

In the past, yobs have caused thousands of pounds of damage to the town's open-air lido.

Sgt Adrian Davis of Highworth police said that the feasibility of a curfew scheme would have to be investigated.

"Highworth does suffer from some anti-social behaviour and recently we have carried out several arrests for drunk and disorderly and seizure of drugs.

"Boredom is one of the main reasons for anti-social behaviour so not all the blame rests with the children.

"There might possibly be about six youngsters who could be subject to a curfew out of thousands. But this is something we will have to look into. Highworth is not exactly Teeside."

Tamash Lal