Plain clothed police officers were out in force at the weekend as they tried to catch youths launching stones at cars.

Officers in Burnley conducted the operation after receiving a barrage of calls about teens throwing stones at passing vehicles on Harold Street in the town.

As a result, a significant number of youths were caught and taken home to their parents and given some stark words of advice.

A spokesperson for the police said: "After receiving numerous reports of youths throwing stones at passing vehicles on Harold Street in Burnley, officers from Burnley neighbourhood policing team and officers from our Special Constabulary have conducted a plain clothes operation in order to catch these youths in the act.

"From this weekend alone we have obtained details for a number of individuals who were taken home to their parents and given words of advice in relation to their behaviour.

"We will be looking to draw up an Acceptable Behaviour Contract with conditions that must be adhered to and will be advising housing in due course.

"Please continue to report incidents of anti-social behaviour as we will be looking to conduct more of these operations if the problem persists."

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