YOUTH workers are taking to the streets of Malmesbury to talk to teenagers about alcohol and drug problems, as well as getting their views on other issues in the town.

The two workers from the Cartmell Youth Centre started their trial weekly walks around the town last month and say they have been encouraged by the positive reaction from youngsters.

Community worker Hayley Brown said: "We have had a really good reaction from the youths we have been talking to.

"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."

Every Thursday from 7.15pm to 9.45pm, the workers make contact with young people in the centre of town.

They tour around the Market Cross, the cloister gardens at Malmesbury Abbey and the Station Yard car park where young people congregate.

Ms Brown said: "We are concentrating on these areas because we are trying to meet as many teenagers as possible.

"Some of those we speak to are initially a bit suspicious of what we are doing.

"We have teenagers who come down to the centre voluntarily and are happy to talk to us freely, but it is a bit more difficult on the street when we approach them."

She said they are trying to build up trust. "I hope that it will get to the stage where teenagers know where we will be at a certain time so they can come to us," she added.

The trial has been made possible by a £3,000 grant from the Government's Community Against Drugs scheme.

The grant will fund the trial scheme in the town for a year. Ms Brown said: "It is a bit early to say how well it going as we are about a month into a three- month trial.

"We are hoping to review the project after this time to see what young people are saying. We shall look at the times we are working and where we are going."

The Cartmell Youth Centre has also recruited an additional member of staff to work three hours a week to give cover for the two workers out in the town.

Sgt Kier Pritchard of Malmesbury police said: "The young are starting to experiment with drugs, solvents and under age drinking.

"I fully support the role of the Cartmell Youth Centre. I think the more information the youth of today can have from as many agencies as possible will allow them to make a better judgement of what they are doing.

"Often the police are not the best suited to give that sort of advice."

In the past, Malmesbury Abbey has had problems with teenagers congregating in its grounds and using them as a social centre.

Condoms and pornographic magazines have been found in the cloister gardens, its benches have been moved and youngsters have hidden in the hedge there for what the abbey's new verger, William Blake, described as 'unmentionable reasons'.

Mr Blake welcomed the news of the street youth workers. "I think it is an excellent new initiative, anything that provides young people with other opportunities, I just wish it could have been started sooner," he said.

"It is a scheme that deserves the support of the community."

He also announced that the abbey was taking its own measures to combat the problems. "A new youth worker started work today at the abbey. We are very much hoping that she will be able to contribute her help to solve the problem. We are trimming the hedge around the memorial gardens and have reduced its height so young people will not be able to hide there any more," he said.