Following representations from members of the public and Bude and Stratton Town Council, officers from the Bude Policing Team will be increasing their patrols in the Castle and Bude Light area.

This is as a result of large numbers of youths congregating in the gateway area that leads up to the Castle, and skate-boarders using the access road.

Sgt Lynden Hughes of the Bude Neighbourhood Team said: "Officers will be increasing their patrols in this area due to concerns recently raised. The vast majority of youngsters that meet up in the area are no problem at all and are probably not aware of the effect their presence is having within the gateway leading to the Castle.

"All skate boarders will be required to go elsewhere. We will also be pointing out to them that one of the new town CCTV cameras is positioned on the Park­house Centre directly overlooking the Bude Light and is hence recording their activity."

'DRINKING

CONCERNS'

Concerns have also been expressed with regards to underage drinking in the area, in response to this the local policing team have adopted an impactive method of dealing with the issue.

Sgt Hughes added: "From now on any youth found drinking alcohol in public will obviously have their alcohol confiscated from them but additionally their parents or carers will be phoned and requested to pick up their child immediately.

"Experience shows that the vast majority of parents are very grateful for their child's drinking being brought to their attention and they attend within a matter of minutes. Those parents who indicate they will not attend will be reminded of our duty of care procedures with regards to children and our obligation, due to their non-attendance, to inform social services of the incident."