They have done so by drafting in officers from other areas in Nelson and Brierfield to swell the numbers on duty at specific times and in targeted places and have employed mobile CCTV cameras.

Insp. Russ Procter said: "On Friday, we identified hot spot locations and specifically brought in officers from other beats at the right time to tackle anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking. In addition, we brought the CCTV mobile unit from Burnley into Barrowford and it seems to have worked."

Insp. Procter was keen to give out a message to parents. He said: "These youngsters are coming from Barrowford and from outside. There are a lot of good kids being caught up in what is happening. The bad kids are very much in the minority. They always are. But it ends up with the good kids being given just as bad a name.

"The majority of what is happening is low-level damage and anti-social behaviour by youths in drink. But while we are dealing with this and tying up officers' time, much more serious crimes can be happening elsewhere.

"We cannot be in two places at once and we have limited resources. To be able to give most time to serious incidents we need to see juvenile crime being harnessed. The only way we can do this is with the help of parents.

"They need to know where their children are and if they say that they are at a friend's house to check that they are there and not wandering around getting into trouble.

"Otherwise they are going to find their children being brought home by the police, cautioned, having to pay a fixed penalty fine, or seeing their children charged with public order or criminal damage offences. We seriously need the parents' support."