AN MP is challenging Home Secretary David Blunkett over policing in a village near York after being "staggered" by the extent of yob behaviour.

Anne McIntosh claimed Skelton was now suffering some of the problems more commonly associated with inner-city Birmingham or Brixton.

The Vale of York Tory MP spoke out after parish councillors spelled out the misery caused by a gang of youths.

They said a resident living in one home on the village green was afraid to go out after having apples and stones thrown at windows, breaking four.

A youth shelter provided in the village had been burned down, several cars had been set on fire, bins had been blown up and the parish council had had to fork out more than £2,000 in the past year on replacing broken lamps.

The parish councillors said they had met Chief Superintendent John Lacy, of York police, several months ago to discuss the problems, but believed little had changed since then.

The MP said North Yorkshire police were doing an excellent job, but they were not being given the resources.

"I have demanded an explanation from the Home Secretary as to why a community can pay a 70 per cent increase in the police precept and still have to pay for a Community Ranger - all at a time when he claims to be putting more officers on the beat."

Community Sergeant Bob Mowat, who is responsible for Skelton, said many of the city's wards had put dealing with antisocial behaviour at the top of their crime-fighting priorities.

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, November 15, 2003