UNDER-AGE drinkers are vandalising a Horsforth park and creating hundreds of pounds worth of damage, it has been claimed.

Horsforth Hall Park has been a target for vandals over the summer months, with youths uprooting flower beds and stealing stereos from cars parked in the council depot inside the park. Vehicles have also been stolen in the past.

Now David Read, of Friends of Hall Park, a group made up of concerned residents, has called for extra vigilance from passers-by and park users in a bid to stamp out the problems.

Mr Read said: "The youths come in taxis from far and wide, even from the other side of the river. You see them getting out of taxis with plastic bags full of alcohol.

"They have created a lot of damage. Even things like plants are quite expensive. Recently, they pulled flowers out of the beds and used them as missiles as they threw them at each other. It is pure vandalism, there's no real reason for it."

Mr Read praised the efforts of the police in cracking down on the under-age drinkers who blight the park, after an emergency meeting recently.

He said: "We had a meeting with the police and youth workers and the police agreed to put more effort into patrolling the park which has been very successful so far -- the youngsters have largely gone elsewhere.

"The police are cracking down on under-age drinking and the outlets where youngsters can buy their alcohol. That can only be a good thing for the park."

Mr Read has now heightened calls for park users and passers-by to keep a watchful eye on the park for young vandals and to report any incidents to the council's parks department or Weetwood Police.

He added: "We need the help of the community to monitor the situation, particularly on an evening. I wouldn't encourage anyone to approach or confront the youngsters, just report them to the relevant authority. Please don't ignore it."

A spokesman for Leeds Leisure Services added his calls for passers-by to report any problems and said he would like to enlist the help of the general public in trying to stop the vandalism.

He said people should call the police or the parks department's 24-hour security line on (0113) 2652103.

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