Park patrols cut problems

Police look to be winning the battle against anti-social youths who gather at an Ollerton play park — but residents say more needs to be done.

There have been fewer reports of problems at the Birch Road play area, where up to 40 youths are known to gather in the evenings, as a result of police patrols.

Ollerton’s beat officer, Pc Colin Oakley, said residents had been more vigilant and were reporting problems.

A tip-off one Friday evening last month led to 76 containers of alcohol being confiscated.

A Birch Road resident, Mrs Lorraine Burton, said: “The police are responding better to people’s requests but we are still having kids in there.”

She said nothing would change until gates were installed at the entrances.

Ollerton and Boughton Town Council, which is responsible for the park, said it would cost £24,000.

Mr Burton said she was willing to organise a community group to take it in turns to lock the gates in the evenings.