YOUNG tearaways have been publicly shamed in a new ploy by police and councillors to combat vandalism.

Twelve youngsters aged between ten and 13 were brought to book after covering new play equipment in Tadcaster with graffiti.

But instead of charging them with criminal damage, police decided to make them clean up the graffiti - in front of their parents and passers-by.

Police officers were given full backing by Tadcaster town councillors before going ahead with the clean-up.

A slide at the newly-installed £26,000 Woodlands play area was covered in expletives by youngsters using indelible ink.

But yesterday the culprits were given scrubbing brushes, scourers and cleaning liquid and told to get "stuck in" under the watchful eye of their parents and police.

Sergeant Ian Butler said: "We decided to shame them rather than prosecute - and it appears to have worked.

"All 12 turned up and some of them were in tears as they started scrubbing.

"The parents were none too happy with their offspring either, although they were very supportive of our action.

"The slide is now immaculately clean and they have all promised they will never do anything like this again." Tadcaster town councillor and former Mayor, Don Bain-Mackay, said the council had given police their full backing.

He said the public shaming was a chastening experience and would set an example to other kids.

Coun Mackay added: "The graffiti scrawled all over the slide was disgusting.

"Making a public spectacle of themselves will do the culprits a lot more good than appearing in a youth court where they can hide behind their anonymity.

"Word will now spread like wildfire around Tadcaster and I'm sure kids will now think twice before vandalising anything."

Coun Mackay said they had received a lot of complaints, particularly from elderly people, about youngsters "getting out of hand" and running amok.

He said: "This play area was paid for from public money and we won't tolerate this sort of behaviour."

lPolice are looking for vandals who smashed windows at two bus stops on the Woodlands Estate in Tadcaster.

Anyone with information about the bus stop vandalism should contact police on 01757 702596.

Updated: 14:39 Friday, July 27, 2001