A MAJOR crackdown on nuisance youths who have been plaguing the lives of residents and traders in part of York is being launched by police.

The high-profile campaign, which begins tonight, will see officers take to the streets of Woodthorpe to target under-age drinking, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and any other crime.

Since November, youths have been causing concern in the area but just recently the problem has worsened with a group of up to 50 young people - some from Foxwood, Chapelfields and South Bank - 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 broken at the Toft Animal Supplies shop, in Moorcroft Road, and goods were stolen, garages were broken into, the roofs were pulled off some car-ports and a fence was damaged.

Residents using the shops have complained about the group's rowdy behaviour and businesses say they are losing customers.

PC Hugh Carruthers, the area's community officer, said: "This group is now numbering as many as fifty at a time, which is intimidating in itself, and there are a lot of elderly people living in the area.

"We have advised these young people before, but they are still carrying on and a few of them have been getting fairly boisterous. We will be using the range of powers we have to deal with them.

"Our main aim is to educate these people as to the problems they are causing. It is obvious they are consuming alcohol and we are looking at how they are getting hold of it."

He warned that the police would take action against anyone found buying alcohol for those under age.

The police are also working with City of York Council and the licensing department to make Woodthorpe an area where drinking in public is banned.

The police acknowledge that the clampdown can only provide a short-term solution and are working on a long-term strategy.

PC Carruthers is working with local businesses and other agencies. He has also been speaking to the young people themselves in a bid to find out what sort of community activities they would like to get involved with.

Updated: 11:24 Friday, February 08, 2002