North Yorkshire police are planning to crack down on criminal damage and disorder in Kirkbymoorside town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

Inspector Neil Burnett, who is in charge of the Ryedale area, said: "We need to make sure the lion's share of resources go to where the problems are.

"We will also use some of our resources to stick them into Kirkbymoorside for those evenings, that three-hour period from 10pm to 1am, to make our presence felt."

This was welcomed by residents, who had complained of regular incidents of loud noise and lewd behaviour when people leave the pubs at the weekend.

One resident said: "In the last five years things have deteriorated, with noise and lewd behaviour - they all think they're in Ibiza."

Insp Burnett said that rumours of possible after-hours drinking in the town's pubs was also a great concern to the police and, he said, that licensing officers and the police would be visiting all the premises in town to ensure the laws are abided by.

The issue of younger people causing problems was also addressed by the police, who have decided to use low tolerance in dealing with those causing trouble.

Police intend to work together with council, church and youth workers.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, June 14, 2001