Police say they are trying to identify the offenders

Some young people in Barwell are using the Kirkby Road park for under-age drinking and are intimidating people in nearby houses, residents say.

Community leaders will meet with residents on Friday to discuss ways of tackling the problem.

Topics at the meeting will include installing CCTV cameras and alcohol-free zones.

Anti-social behaviour

It is alleged that gangs of teenagers are spending their evenings in the park, getting drunk and causing a nuisance.

Nearby residents say they are the victims of threatening behaviour and vandalism and the park is being left in a mess.

The neighbouring cemetery has also been broken into and grave stones attacked.

Something has to be done because it is going from worse to worse Alison Lucas

Local borough councillor Maureen Cook says the park used to be one of the highlights of the village.

"The residents live in a nice place with a nice park that should enhance their lives.

"Instead of that it is making their life a misery."

Police say they have steeped up patrols in the area.

A police spokesman said: "We are trying to identify the offenders, but a lot of the problems are not criminal offences but anti-social behaviour like swearing.

"We will try to work with the offenders and their families to stop them from acting like that."

Alison Lucas, a local resident said: "Something has to be done because it is going from worse to worse.