Police were repeatedly called to disturbances involving youths on a York estate over the weekend.

In the early hours of today, three youths were seen running off after two cars were torched on the old Imperial Hotel site, in Crichton Avenue, Clifton.

Officers were called to reports of youths fighting in Lucas Avenue and Burrill Avenue on Friday.

And on Saturday there were complaints of youths on motorbikes causing a nuisance in Burton Green and Spalding Avenue.

A window was smashed in the former butcher's shop in Crichton Avenue, and other incidents included youths throwing stones in Ashton Avenue and Spalding Avenue.

The area's Neighbourhood Watch chairman, Brian Flanagan, said that despite the incidents, crime in the area continued to fall.

He said: "Although people do get worried about these incidents, the official figures show crime here is still dropping.

"It is not an unsafe place, it is just a small minority of youths who cause these problems. There is nothing wrong with the majority of the kids here."

Updated: 16:19 Monday, April 30, 2001