Youth workers have returned to the streets of Malmesbury to talk to teenagers about alcohol and drug problems, as well as getting their views on how they are treated in the town.

The project began in October 2002 but was put on hold when community worker Hayley Brown went on maternity leave.

"I could not find anyone to cover it whilst I was off. Now I am back I have restarted it," said Ms Brown. "There are two of us going around the town one night a week for two and a half hours, every week."

The two workers are from Cartmell Youth Centre and they are funded by the national Community Against Drugs scheme.

"We are meeting young people on the streets where they are. We talk over issues and we are a source of information for other agencies. It is just about making contact with young people so they know what we are doing, and they can talk to us about issues, which are important to them.

"We carry leaflets and can provide information about which agencies can offer support or guide them to people who can help."

While talking to the young people last week Ms Brown realised they were still concerned about the same issues they raised a year ago.

"The biggest issue is a static skate park in the area because nothing has happened. The young people also feel they are being moved on from areas regularly by the police," she said.

"There is a lot of frustration around. They feel they are being moved on but there haven't got any where to go."

The community workers started back on the beat last weekend and went around areas of the town where young people congregate such as the Abbey cloisters and Market Cross.

"The benches in the Abbey cloisters have been taken away and the young people feel this is an attempt to stop them being there.

"They just want somewhere they can meet up and chat with their friends that is not supervised by adults."

The community centre is open four nights a week but many of the youngsters do not want to go somewhere that is supervised.

Ms Brown said it was important that she worked with other agencies in the town such as the police to identify the problems with youths and try to find a solution.

The return to the streets by youth workers coincides with the town getting the go-ahead for an alcohol ban on the streets.

Under-age drinkers cause a nuisance to residents with their rowdy behaviour and vandalism.

When Malmesbury becomes an alcohol free zone, possibly by February, police officers will have discretionary powers to confiscate alcohol and even make arrests where anti-social behaviour is involved.

The youth workers hope to work alongside the police and tackle the areas where these youths congregate.

PC Martin Alvis said after 11 years on the beat he is convinced that under-age drinking is the main cause of petty criminal damage in Malmesbury.

lcanter@newswilts.co.uk