POLICE have vowed to keep an eye on a gang of youths who gather at the recreation ground in Box after complaints about their behaviour by families living nearby.

Officers, who believe the youngsters are drinking and causing damage, said they will be taking action to make sure the youngsters were doing nothing illegal and their parents knew where they were.

"It is an issue we are looking into and we will be involving the specials and all our officers so we can increase patrols in the area," said Sergeant Deborah Ashley, who is based at Corsham police station.

The youths are coming from outside Box to meet at the ground in large numbers. PC Andy Guy said residents have seen parents drive to the site and drop their children off on a Friday and Saturday evening.

"They are coming from Bath, Corsham and Bradford on Avon to meet at the site. They are drinking under age, disturbing the peace and causing damage. They knock the bins over and leave rubbish everywhere," said PC Guy.

Neighbours have been complaining to police on a regular basis and elderly people in particular feel threatened by the youths.

"We get at least six calls a night when they are there. Enough is enough," said PC Guy.

The youths are aged around 15 years old and sometimes stay in Box until the early hours of the morning.

Police believe some of the youngsters are responsible for causing £1,000 damage to a coach two weeks ago.

PC Guy said the police were dedicated to tackling the problem as swiftly as possible.

"If we don't knock it on the head now the problem will get bigger. I understand that the kids want somewhere to go but the problem is it is such large numbers and we have to consider the feelings of local residents," he said.

Sergeant Ashley said the police will be taking positive actions over the coming weeks and will continue to do so into the summer.

"We will be going down there and speaking to them. We are not going to ignore the problem because it won't go away. We will be informing their parents of where they are and what they are doing," she said.

Margaret Carey, parish clerk said it appeared to be the in place for youngsters to gather.

"It is particularly bad on a Friday evening. The groundsman expressed concern as the numbers are increasing. They are creating litter and there is petty vandalism. We want to try and sort it out before the evenings get lighter and there is more of them," she said.