TEENAGE tearaways are turning a York youth club into a no-go area.

In one incident, workers at the 68 Centre in Muncaster were trapped in the car park and forced to hide indoors after youngsters jammed the gates and pelted them with missiles.

Doors and windows at the Barfield Road building have been damaged by vandals and intruders in recent weeks.

Residents have reported children as young as six climbing on the building, while others have been seen urinating on to passers-by from the roof. Staff have held a "cooling-off" period to try to dispel the problems, and have brought in extra police patrols and a strict membership scheme.

PC Jon Bostwick, who is responsible for the area, said youth club organisers were to hold an emergency meeting at which they hoped to find a long-term solution.

"The people who are doing this aren't known to the police. They aren't criminals, they are just local kids. It's a shame, because it's a cracking little centre," he said.

"All the residents are fed up with it all. It's common knowledge that there are problems and we are doing our best to sort it all out."

PC Bostwick added that a path next to the centre had become a haunt of alcohol-drinking youngsters and drug paraphernalia had also been found.

Council officer Steve Bushby has been looking at ways of restricting access, but said the footpath could not be closed as it was also used by nearby residents.

Staff members have also been investigating whether CCTV cameras could be installed and local shopkeepers have been warned about selling alcohol to under-18s.

The centre underwent a major revamp in September using money from Make Space - a campaign to create after-school clubs for youngsters funded by Nestl.

A council spokeswoman said: "The 68 Centre has been set up to create a safe, warm and welcoming place for young people in the area.

"The problems are being caused by a small number of people, and are very distressing to the majority of the young people who use the centre.

"We are having a multi-agency meeting, including representatives from the police and the youth service, to discuss the problems and the best way of dealing with them."

Updated: 11:10 Thursday, November 04, 2004