A PARISH council is trying to set up a youth forum in an attempt to stop teenagers from under-age drinking and hanging around on the streets.

Box Parish Council is looking for a youth worker to liaise with youngsters and find out what facilities they want.

Councillors decided something had to be done after more than 50 youths started gathering on the recreational ground on Friday nights causing disruption.

"There is no suitable place for them to go at night and the youth club on the Bradford-on-Avon Road is too far away," said chairman Derek Lovell.

He said the parish wanted to provide young people with the right facilities.

"We need to ask them what they want and not tell them what they can have," he said.

But before a youth forum can be set up the council needs to appoint a youth worker.

Mr Lovell and the Reverend Richard Snow contacted the youth development service of Wiltshire County Council to look at the ways in which youth work provision could be made for young people in the village.

Pam Brookes, the county council's Corsham community area youth development manager, said: "We need enthusiastic and energising adults who can listen to young people, enable them to gain skills and assist them in achieving their goals."

The parish council is to recruit voluntary and paid part-time youth workers to meet young people.

Mr Lovell said the youths were leaving rubbish on the recreation ground and disturbing residents. They are leaving cans and broken glass on the play area which is worrying as young children use it."

PC Andy Guy of Corsham Police Station said the police were taking the matter seriously and wanted to put a stop to the anti-social behaviour.

"Most of them are decent kids but en masse they can cause a problem. There is also the issue of under-age drinking. We want to let their parents know what they are getting up to," he said.

He said one youth had been caught stealing alcohol from a village shop.

"He tried to get away on his push bike but he was already drunk and he fell off," said PC Guy.

The boy broke his wrist as he fell and sustained scratches to his face.

He was arrested by police and cautioned.

PC Guy said: "It is becoming a real problem for residents and youths are creating a disturbance late at night.

"Papers are left outside some of the shops at night to be collected in the morning and the youngsters are kicking them about and making a real mess."

Sergeant Deborah Ashley of Corsham Police said officers would be taking positive steps to address the situation over the coming weeks and into the summer.

If you are interested in becoming a youth worker contact Pam Brookes or Sue Matthews at the Bridge Centre in Chippenham on (01249) 652185.