Reporter SALLY FLETCHER speaks to the York city centre traders whose lives and businesses are being blighted by vandalism and intimidation from gangs of youths congregating in the Newgate Market area at night.

NEWGATE market trader Gary Hayes runs a flower stall that has been in his family for 26 years.

In all the time he has been working he has never felt so under siege.

"I can't remember how many times my stall has been attacked, the electrics have been torn out literally dozens of times and the canopy slashed times more," he said.

Fellow trader Justin Ward backed up his comments. "The stalls and the whole area are covered with glass, bottles, cans, we have found dozens of needles here," he said.

"It's anarchy, I daren't be the last trader out here any more," said Rupert Harrison.

"The other day a youth came as I was clearing the stall and shifted my gear to vandalise it. I couldn't believe it."

Pret a Manger team leader Lee Hanson said: "We had three giant windows smashed in the last three weeks, and the shop is covered in graffiti. It's just not the image we want to present."

O'Brien's manager Rachel Remblance said: "This is supposed to be a prime city centre location, people should feel safe and secure here, but because of this they don't.

"They are abusing customers, and people have said they just won't come down here at night.

"Is that what we want for the city centre?"

The answer from Safer York Partnership's Carole Patrick is a resounding 'no'.

The partnership has asked for communities to become involved in solving the problems on the streets of York, working with themselves, the police, and other agencies to tackle the youngsters.

She said: "The partnership is working with North Yorkshire Police to do everything we can to combat this."

She said officers were changing policing patterns to target patrols at vital times and enlisting community support officers to ensure that vital times are fully covered.

"But there is much more to the problem than policing, and solving it will take more than just us," she said.

She said the problem had its roots in teenagers, some of whom might have problems at home, trying to break away from parental control.

"Add boredom and peer pressure to that, and it often ends in this trouble," said PC Dave Heaven, a ward manager in York.

"We need to know who these young people are so we can go and find out the causes of it, and get them help if that's what they need, said Ms Patrick.

"There are so many reasons for this, but the only solution will be if we all try to tackle them."

She also stressed the need for community involvement to provide another outlet and direction for the youngsters.

"We need parents and families to work with us.

"If their children enjoy using facilities like skate parks, parents could help out for a couple of hours a week, providing supervision and guidance.

"That's what the young people need, and that doesn't mean we have gone soft, we want to take action, but getting people involved needs to be top of the agenda."

The partnership asked that anyone who sees antisocial behaviour, or who recognises any of the young people causing nuisance in the street, phone 01904 631321 and leave a message for PC Howard Smelt-Webb or PC Rick Ball. People can also phone Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111, or email Safer York Partnership at SaferCommunities@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Updated: 10:46 Thursday, September 11, 2003