Calls for a major crackdown on boozy youngsters in Silsden have been made by townsfolk.

Children as young as 12 have been seen walking the streets clutching cans of beer.

Now police are being urged to crack down on them by confiscating alcohol and reporting them to their parents.

The situation has become so bad that Silsden community constable Richard Leonard has already visited off-licences in to remind traders of drinking laws.

Members of Silsden Parish Council have also called for new bylaws which would outlaw drinking in the street.

However, police have labelled these unworkable and say the current legislation is enough to tackle the problem.

Councillor Alan Edwards said: "I'm concerned about the amount of drinking that seems to be going on.

"There are kids of 12 and 13 trailing round at midnight with cans of beer and they're getting it from somewhere."

Last year members of Silsden Environmental Group called for a ban on street drinking following a spate of vandalism in the town's newly-refurbished memorial gardens.

Keighley police Inspector Paul Spencer said the force did not favour the introduction of bylaws.

He said: "They are somewhat of a white elephant and have their limitations.

"To try to stop this sort of thing you need powers of arrest and without that there's not a lot you can do."

"The current legislation is sufficient to deal with the problem."

"The community action team, based in Silsden, deal with this sort of thing all the time and have the power to confiscate alcohol and then inform parents."