A LANDLORD has hired a doorman to stop drunken teenagers sneaking into his pub toilets and causing damage.

John Reid, who runs the Dick Turpin Pub, in Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe, took the drastic measure because youths kept causing damage after wandering in to relieve themselves.

A regular at the pub, who asked not to be named, has been taken on as a temporary bouncer to stop them getting in.

"Enough was enough," said Mr Reid, 49, who has been at the pub for nine years.

"Friday nights have been a nightmare - I can't see who is getting in from behind the bar. Gangs of youths congregate near the pub to drink themselves silly. They sneak into the toilets and cause a terrible mess.

"I've had to redecorate the toilets after wallpaper was ripped and thrown all over the place.

"Since I took on the doorman I've had no problems - it's a perfect deterrent."

A high-profile campaign has recently been launched in Woodthorpe by York police, to crack down on the problem of nuisance youths.

As previously reported in the Evening Press, officers have been taking to the streets to target under-age drinking, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and any other crime.

Since November, more than 50 young people - some from Foxwood, Chapelfields and South Bank - have been regularly congregating outside the parade of shops in Moorcroft Road.

In just one night last week a string of incidents occurred. A large window was smashed at the Toft Animal Supplies shop, garages were broken into, the roofs were pulled off some carports and a fence was damaged.

Mr Reid said he had been working closely with the police.

"It has got to be a partnership if the problem is to be solved," he said. "I will keep the doorman on every Friday until they stop trying to get in."

PC Hugh Caruthers, the area's community officer, said police were working with City of York Council and the licensing department to make Woodthorpe an area where drinking in public is banned.

Updated: 11:26 Monday, February 11, 2002