Shopkeepers in Haxby have started a petition in a bid to banish yobs who are making their lives a misery.

The Press reported last month how shop owners were being targeted by vandals and under-age drinkers who intimidate those in the centre of the village in the evenings.

Windows have been smashed, a bus shelter destroyed and empty bottles and cans of booze are left littering the streets.

The police were also criticised for not having enough of a presence in the area.

But now business owners in the village's Ryedale Court are fighting back and have launched a petition which is on all their shop counters.

It states: "We the undersigned are sick of the hassle, intimidation, verbal abuse and mindless vandalism caused by groups of young people hanging around Ryedale Court. We ask the council to do something about the problem before it becomes any worse. All the businesses in Ryedale Court have been affected by this in some way."

One shop owner, who did not want to be named, said: "We're hoping that pressure can be brought to bear on the police to police the area better.

"There is only one problem and that problem is this group of youngsters. Take them away and there's no problem. They only hang around here because they are allowed to.

"The police need to disperse them and if necessary get dispersal orders. If it doesn't get any better what about ASBOs?"

He said at the moment nothing is happening as there has not yet been a groundswell of public opinion. He said police have arranged a public meeting for April 18 when officers will meet councillors, business owners and local people to discuss the problems.

Christopher Hogg, a City of York councillor for Haxby, said he and other councilors held a meeting with the police on Tuesday in which they were told there would be a new approach to policing the area.

He said: "I don't think our problems compare to some areas of the city, but for what is a rural community there is vandalism, violence and intimidation and we are trying to fight against it."

He said councillors wanted the police to give them a guaranteed response time when incidents happen in the village.

Yobbery and assault

 There were two high-profile incidents of yobbery in Haxby and Strensall in only a few days last month.

March 3: About 50 drunken yobs stormed through Strensall. A bus inspector was assaulted, bottles were smashed and a bus had a wheelie bin thrown in front of it.

March 6: Youths go on the rampage in Haxby smashing windows and destroying a brand new bus shelter that had only just been installed.

Police in crackdown vow

 POLICE have vowed to crackdown on antisocial behaviour in the York village in a day of action this Saturday.

Officers from the dedicated neighbourhood policing team for Haxby and Strensall will be patrolling both areas from 5pm until the early hours of Sunday morning.

And they had a warning for any youths out on the streets.

PC Alex Dobson, who leads the team, said: "We want to send the message to children and their parents that we will deal with them robustly.

"Officers in high visibility jackets will be patrolling the area giving a strong message across to anyone causing antisocial behaviour or criminal damage.

"They'll be dealt with robustly and taken to the cells or back to their parents' house. Parents need to take responsibility for their children and know where they are."

He said anyone caught drinking under-age would have their alcohol confiscated.

PC Dobson said the mobile police station would be in Strensall throughout Saturday night and residents were welcome to go to speak to officers about any concerns they had.