BRIERFIELD councillor Frank Clifford has held crisis talks with local police in a bid to tackle teenage tearaways.

He requested a meeting with Insp Paul Robinson after a rise in under-age drinking and complaints about youths throwing stones at emergency services vehicles, called to false alarms.

At the talks he asked for more public help points linked to the CCTV cameras in the town, more operatives to work the cameras and better youth services.

Coun Clifford said: "There have been a number of incidents in the borough but I want it known that we have full confidence in our police. It is important we work in partnership to find solutions.

"I was surprised to hear we have only one help point attached to the CCTV cameras. I have obtained an estimate in the region of £10,000 to provide more help points in Brierfield which I will put to the area committee for their consideration."

Coun Clifford was concerned that no-one in the town was in contact with the console, as in Burnley centre, and that there were only two people at any one time operating more than 140 cameras across the division.

He said: "How on earth can two people, as diligently as they work, monitor so many cameras effectively? I think we need half a dozen more staff."

He also said he had been horrified at the number of licensed premises in the area which had failed test purchasing carried out by police and trading standards.

Insp Robinson confirmed that 50 per cent of the premises targeted in the first day of the operation were found to be selling alcohol to under-age drinkers, and 25 per cent illegally selling alcohol during the whole operation.

He said he had also spoken to the headteacher of Mansfield High School after discussions with certain youths involved and their parents.

Insp Robinson said: "It was a productive meeting but the head was concerned that untoward publicity was being directed at his school when the vast majority of pupils caused no trouble."

Brierfield police are looking into using tactics similar to those in Operation Flock in Colne, when teachers went out with councillors and police to tackle under-age drinkers.

Insp Robinson said community beat managers were identifying people causing problems in the area to get them to sign an anti-social behaviour contract.