UNRULY gangs of youths are continuing to cause a nuisance in parts of Locking Castle in Weston. The Maltlands has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour in the last couple of years with youngsters hanging around drinking alcohol and causing criminal dam

UNRULY gangs of youths are continuing to cause a nuisance in parts of Locking Castle in Weston.The Maltlands has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour in the last couple of years with youngsters hanging around drinking alcohol and causing criminal damage to residents' properties near the park.Last September a dispersal order was placed on the area, which stopped large groups gathering there. But the order ran out in December and now Avon and Somerset police's antisocial behaviour co-ordinator, Terry Crees, says the problem seems to be rearing its ugly head again with youngsters as young as 13 involved.He said: "Since the start of the warm weather the problems have been the same as last year."We are contemplating another dispersal order because of the alcohol-related problems caused by gangs of youths there and minor acts of criminal damage."We are currently giving the area as much policing as is available but may have to put in another order as the park is for everyone to enjoy."The order could last for up to six months and, if we do it, we would consider making it for the whole summer period up to September."If it happens it could come into action at the end of April but there are processes we need to go through, like putting notices in newspapers in preparation."We would appeal to parents to be mindful as to what their kids are up to."Last summer residents said they were sick of having their property damaged by unruly youths who were hanging around drinking, swearing and setting fire to things.They said they often had to step on broken glass from bottles as they walked along the footpath by the park next to their houses.