COUNCILLORS will be asked to urge the Government to step in to tackle gangs of youths running riot in York.

Coun Mick Bradley (Lib Dem) has put forward a motion to Tuesday's full council meeting asking members to back his plans for dealing with the growing problem.

His motion, which will be discussed at the meeting, comes only days after he revealed that young louts were making life a misery for residents in his Heworth Without constituency.

Applecroft Road and the surrounding areas have been quiet since the Evening Press reported how drunken youngsters trashed a community centre with beer and whisky bottles.

But Coun Bradley is anxious to make sure the estate is not forgotten in the coming weeks.

His motion states: "In the light of growing problem with nuisance youths in parts of the York area, council instructs the chief executive to make urgent representations to central Government aimed at securing the earliest possible release of additional funding for law enforcement initiatives, such as the street warden scheme, in the city."

Coun Bradley said: "I am discussing a number of community safety options with my ward committee. One of these could be looking to bring in a private security firm, if residents were willing."

Les Battams, vice-chairman of the Heworth Without Community Centre, which was attacked, said: "It has been quiet.

"If we can get through this weekend without any surprises then we may be all right."

No one at City of York Council could comment directly on the motion.

But a spokeswoman said: "Neighbourhood wardens have been operating in some parts of the city since last summer. The wardens provide mobile patrols, with the aim of promoting community safety.

"They work very closely with the police and are the 'eyes and ears' for the police on the ground in these neighbourhoods."

Updated: 12:44 Saturday, April 27, 2002