A LANDLORD, whose pub was terrorised by gangs of troublesome youths, has given the teenagers a glass of goodwill -- by building them a five-a-side football pitch on the pub car park.

Kind-hearted Phill Whiteside, who runs the Brookfield Arms, Croasdale Road, Preston, was determined to put an end to the incidents of teenage vandalism after taking over the pub two months ago.

The youngsters had been a nuisance and regularly hurled stones at the pub -- causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

The situation was so bad the previous landlord only opened the pub for four hours a day.

Phill said: "As soon as I moved in I started having trouble with the children from the estate. Brookfield has always had problems with youngsters, so I went to them and asked what I could do to get them to stop. They told me that there was nothing for them to do on the estate, but if I found them something they would stop."

In a bid to put an end to the youngsters' boredom Phill hit on an idea to 'kill two birds with one stone' and built a football pitch at the back of the pub.

"I asked them whether, if I built them a five-a-side pitch in the car park, they would stop vandalising my pub. They said yes. I've also given them their own space inside the pub -- a back room. They help me clean the room, hoovering and looking after it," Phill said. And his generous offer seems to have worked. Local youngsters have been given something to do, and everyone in the area can keep track of them too -- they will be playing football behind the Brookfield Arms on a pitch -- with a kit provided through money raised by the team.

Phill said: "My father supplied the steel for the goalposts, and I paid for them. We're trying to fund-raise now to keep the pitch in good condition.

"The locals are all for it, and it keeps the kids occupied. So far we have been going for four weeks, and have raised around £80.

"We're looking for other ways to get money now, through the council, Prince's Trust, or maybe through sponsorship."

Now Phill is calling on local councillors, residents and private enterprises to sponsor the team.