A crackdown on teenagers spoiling Bingley’s parks by turning them into “party central” with anti-social drinking has led to police confiscating litres of alcohol.

The neighbourhood policing team has been receiving reports of teenagers congregating in the town’s parks since the weather began to improve. With the half-term holidays this week, and many students celebrating finishing their A- levels and GCSEs studies, police decided to respond by increasing patrols.

Last Friday evening PCSOs visited Myrtle Park, the St Ives Estate and Gilstead Moor, all hotspots for drinking.

They seized and “destroyed” 49 cans of lager, eight cans of cider and a bottle of vodka, and told the young drinkers, aged 15 and 16, that their future behaviour will be monitored.

Councillors were happy that police had responded to park users worries.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said: “There has been some concerns that parts of the town were getting to be party central. There was a bit of a worry that as we were getting into spring, young people would be drinking alcohol in places they shouldn’t be.

“People take their kids to these parks, people go there to walk their dogs or sit and read a book without any hassle. Anything the police can do to make sure any drinking in Bingley is responsible and legal is a good thing.”

Councillor Mark Christopher John Shaw (Con, Bingley) said: “There have been a few incidents of kids congregating on street corners and drinking. It is nice to see the police get involved with what is going on.”

A police spokesman said: “On Friday, officers used their powers to confiscate and dispose of the alcohol from youths found drinking in St Ives Estate, Myrtle Park and on Gilstead Moor.

“All of the youths were aged between 15 and 16 and each of them has been recorded on police systems and their future behaviour will be monitored.”

Earlier this month alcohol was confiscated from teenagers drinking outside Bingley Arts Centre.