A GROUP has been set up to bring together all parties involved in youth-related problems in Oswaldtwistle to find a solution to the trouble.

The Rhyddings Park working group will comprise Coun Doug Hayes and Coun Brian Walmsley, a number of residents, youth group leaders and a police representative who will meet once a month for ongoing discussions about how to work together to resolve problems.

At an area council meeting, Sergeant Ian Hanson, who set up a policy of positive no-nonsense policing in Oswaldtwistle to move trouble causing youths away from Union Road, spoke with residents about their concerns.

So far there have been 49 arrests and the closure of a Union Road public house which sold alcohol to under age drinkers but residents complained that the problem had simply been moved into Rhyddings Park rather than being stopped and that the youths were still making their lives unbearable.

At the meeting residents, too frightened to be named, complained that drunken yobs were running riot in Rhyddings Park and that residents and other park users were afraid to go into the park because of threats and abuse.

Sergeant Hanson said: "We have got two choices as to what we do now. We can tell stories and fall out with each other or we can draw a line in the sand and take it from here.

"We gave a commitment six months ago that we would do our best and we are trying to improve the situation."

The first meeting will be held next month.