THE lack of youth facilities in Malmesbury was highlighted last week following reports that groups of bored teenagers hanging around the town were causing concern.

Both residents and town councillors said they were increasingly perturbed by groups of youths congregating at night in trees behind the Persimmon Homes' headquarters and Cartmell Youth Centre.

PC Stewart Poulton, of the rapid response police unit at Wootton Bassett, said: "We've had various complaints about youths at the back of Persimmon Homes.

"The kids have put mattresses under the trees. They've got a right little den down there."

He said there had been complaints of criminal damage, graffiti on fences, drunken yobbery and noise.

"It's not that they're out and out nasty kids. They are just bored. It's the age-old problem of youth and yobbery. They make a lot of noise and swear and lark about and some passers-by can become quite unnerved by them."

He said the police would continue monitoring the situation, and would respond to complaints.

The problem at the Persimmon Homes site follows earlier concern about the behaviour of teenagers congregating at other locations in the town.

Youths were accused of littering the Cloister Gardens with used condoms, pornographic magazines and empty cans, and residents have also complained about yobbish behaviour near the Back Hill steps.

Last month, residents said they were concerned at the anti-social behaviour of young people who gather in the High Street and around the Market Cross at weekends.

David Thornton, managing director for Persimmon Homes (Wessex), said: "We are aware kids congregate at the rear of our office building at night, and have discussed the issue with the town council.

"Unfortunately, we can do very little about it, as there is a public right of way across the land."

At a town council finance committee meeting last Thursday, councillors said it was inappropriate for teenagers to gather near the Persimmon site for health and safety reasons. They also did not think the footpath was suitable as a youth meeting place because it was also used by younger children.

Coun Brian Slade, chairman of the Malmesbury Youth Action Group, said: "I personally have not experienced any problems with the young people who gather there, but there are people who perceive groups of youths as threatening. There may be one or two youngsters who can be a little rude at times."

The real cause of the problem, he said, was the lack of a facility in the town where youths, particularly those in their middle teens, could meet without feeling they were constantly supervised by adults.

He said teenagers between the age of 14 and 17 often felt they were too old for youth clubs.

"What they need is somewhere that feels like their own front room," he said.

Coun Slade recently contacted the Devizes-based Options Trust where young people run an informal cafe in the town centre which offers Internet facilities and music.

He said he hoped the Options Trust might consider opening a similar cafe in Malmesbury, if a suitable town centre venue could be found.