TRADERS in Walcot must have good reason to shut up shop early.

But whether the blame for the dip in trade they have been experiencing can be placed entirely at the feet of young people who congregate in Sussex Square is not clear.

Certainly there seems to be a fear amongst shopkeepers and shoppers about the youths who gather there.

But police say the implementation of CCTV cameras as well as street wardens in the area has done much to tackle crime.

And they say there has been no evidence of any major increase in probems of late.

The most important point to remember, however, is that it would not be fair to tar everyone with the same brush.

Without doubt, Sussex Square has its problems.

But as one 17-year-old puts it: "Young people are still going to hang around."