Youth workers have been forced to call time on an alcohol-free bar's Friday night sessions - because of drunken teenagers.

The Cellar Bar and drop-in centre beneath the YMCA in Skipton was opened last autumn to give 14 to 17-year-olds a place to hang out with their friends.

But now, following attempts by some youngsters - who had been drinking elsewhere - to get into the centre organisers have axed the Friday sessions to avoid the potential for drink-fuelled trouble.

Terry Ingram, who is assistant to the YMCA's housing and foyer managers and runs the continuing Thursday night sessions, said: "It's a great shame because young people don't go to school on Saturdays so we're likely to have more in on a Friday than weekdays but if it means we won't get people who've been drinking trying to get in so be it.

"People of that age shouldn't be drinking anyway and we're not going to encourage it. If people want to come along that's fine but it's an alcohol-free project and if they've been drinking they won't be let in."

He said it was hoped the axed session may be reinstated later and that barring the Friday night problems the project itself was proving successful with up to 25 youngsters using the venue at Pinder House, Keighley Road.

Acting Inspector Stuart Mackleston, of Skipton police, said: "It's very sad they've had to close but we're addressing the problem and hopefully they can open again in the not too distant future.

"We still fully support the concept - it's an excellent scheme and the youth definitely need somewhere to go that's safe and provides for their needs.

"We've had problems in town with underage people drinking in public places and have made a number of seizures ranging from beer to bottles of Malibu and brandy on Friday nights."

The venue - which features an upholstered bar with matching furniture donated by Britvic and optics containing soft drinks as well as music, a television and video - is still open 7pm to 10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays with an extra session now run on Tuesdays.

And a transport service now enables young people from outlying areas to join their Skipton counterparts.

On Tuesdays a minibus runs from outside the Bay Horse pub in Cowling at 7pm with a further pick-up in Crosshills. A similar service runs from Grassington's main square at 7pm on Wednesdays.

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