PEOPLE living in a vandal-hit area of York are to hold crunch talks in an effort to stop the nuisance youths behind the attacks.

Dozens of people from Heworth Without are expected to crowd into Hempland Primary School in Whitby Road, tomorrow, to voice their concerns at the rising tide of youth disorder in the area.

Chief Superintendent John Lacy, of York Police, will be addressing residents attending Heworth Without parish council, in what is expected to be a highly-charged meeting.

Coun Mick Bradley, chairman of the parish council, said people living in the area around Burnholme were furious after suffering a string of attacks at the hands of drink-fuelled young vandals.

In April, residents were told that no police help was available as thugs smashed up Heworth Without Community Centre.

Last night, two youths are thought to have carried out an arson attack which damaged a storage garage at Hempland School.

Computer equipment was destroyed after a blaze was started in a wheelie bin, which then spread through a walkway to the garage.

Coun Bradley said a big turnout was expected at the meeting, which starts at 7pm, as residents have decided that enough is enough.

"These incidents are still carrying on. We are still finding heavy drinking and will be talking about ways we can stop these youths," he said.

"We have now raised the money for community rangers and they should be able to start in the near future. That will be a help.

"A good attendance is expected and something needs to be done about this problem now."

A City of York Council spokesman said the authority had been informally invited by a member of the public, but felt it could not attend under those circumstances.

He said: "We have not been invited officially and we don't think it would be polite to just turn up.

"If the parish council wants us to attend then that is a matter for them."

Police said the two youths thought to be behind the attack at Hempland School are about 14 years old.

Both were wearing light-coloured T-shirts and jeans. The first is about 5ft 6ins tall, the other 5ft 9ins. The pair are both slim and one of the youths was seen carrying a container which appeared to have a yellow liquid inside.

Anyone with any information about the attack should contact York police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 15:09 Tuesday, June 18, 2002