Tadcaster residents are organising a petition to close down a Barnardo's home in the town after blaming children there for a "mini-crimewave".

They claim children as young as 12 are responsible for smashing windows, throwing eggs at houses, and stealing from shops - often very late at night.

Tadcaster town councillor Jean Ashton said every time there was a new intake at the home, situated on the outskirts of the town, mindless acts of vandalism took place.

Coun Ashton claims she recently confronted two Barnardo's youngsters at 1.30am because they were damaging her bin and wrecking flower beds.

She said: "These children are just roaming the streets.

"I live on an estate populated by mainly elderly people. Why should they be subjected to things like this - particularly late at night?"

Betty Dawson, of Wighill Lane, said: "These kids are like a mini-crimewave. I've seen some of them wandering about at all hours of the night.

"I'm starting a petition to get something done about the place, and I think there will be a lot of support for it.

"A lot of the kids have serious problems and should be in a secure unit with counselling. Barnardo's either wants closing down or some of the children need to be moved to somewhere more secure."

Ken Sawyer, a receptionist at Power Plus Garage in Commercial Street, said: "We've had trouble with Barnardo's kids breaking windows. They used to come in and steal things from the shop."

The vicar of St Mary's, the Rev Richard Burton, said several church windows were smashed more than a year ago by one of the children - but he defended the work of the home.

Mr Burton said: "The stupidity of one lad from the home a year ago has turned into something very positive.

"We've made excellent contacts with the staff there, and not all the problems are caused by children from Barnardo's."

Assistant director of Barnardo's children's services Toni Johnston said: "We recognise the fact that some of the young people looked after at Tadcaster Young People's Centre have had difficulties in the past and these may, on occasions, resurface.

"Staff at the centre work extremely hard to ensure that the young people are set appropriate boundaries and helped to overcome their difficulties.

"A new unit co-ordinator has recently been appointed with a special brief to develop community links which will benefit both the centre and the community."

Sergeant Ian Butler, of Tadcaster Police, said: "There are some problems with Barnardo's, but not to the extent that people believe. If anything ever happens in Tadcaster they get blamed."