A police officer was taken to hospital and five teenagers were arrested after youths wielding baseball bats and sticks clashed with police in York.

The parade of shops in Crichton Avenue, Clifton, which was the scene of violent disorder and clashes with the police

Officers from all over the city descended on Crichton Avenue, Clifton, after reports of "violent disorder" outside the shops in the street last night.

One officer was taken to York District Hospital suffering from back injuries sustained during the incident but has since been released.

Trouble flared at about 9.30pm when a group of youths were confronted after alleged shoplifting. A breeze-block was thrown through a police car window during the incident.

Superintendent John Lacy, of York police, said: "The officers who initially attended were faced with a serious violent disorder situation where they found youths had used breeze-blocks and hand-carried weapons to create damage and intimidation outside the shops in Crichton Avenue.

"I have the greatest admiration for these officers who were low in numbers attending at an incident of that magnitude," said Supt Lacy.

"I can't speak highly enough of their actions. They were faced with a very frightening situation indeed."

Police are now investigating a catalogue of crimes including theft, assault, carrying offensive weapons and criminal damage.

In January, three Clifton teenagers were among the first in the country to be subject to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) after the Government gave police and councils increased powers to deal with such problems.

Supt Lacy said: "ASBOs remain a vital tool for police and if any charges are brought in relation to breaches of ASBOs the courts will take the necessary steps which will mean custodial sentences.

"There have been indications that trouble has again been brewing in Clifton."

Residents at a Clifton Regeneration Project meeting last week told Supt Lacy that anti-social behaviour was beginning again in the area.

"I take a very dim view of what has been going on in this area," he said.

"I'm angry and disappointed that these minorities are letting me and the residents down by taking such a backwards step into disorder when there is so much good work going on in the area thanks to the regeneration project."

Supt Lacy urged anyone who has any further information about what happened in Crichton Avenue last night to contact the York police helpdesk on 01904 631321.

Meanwhile, police were today dealing with a spate of criminal damage in the Eastfield and Cayton areas, south of Scarborough.

A spokeswoman at Scarborough police station said: "All of the reports have come in this morning as people have gone out to find car tyres slashed and windows broken."

She said they had been informed of damage to seven or eight vehicles, and smashed windows at a local doctor's surgery, library and fish and chip shop.

The police spokeswoman added that officers had made two arrests and inquiries were continuing.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.