EXTRA police will be on patrol in Padiham this weekend as part of a crackdown on unruly behaviour and criminal damage.

Officers from Pennine Division's support unit and special constabulary will join community beat managers on patrol in the town following problems with youth nuisance in recent weeks, including the damage to Ivy Bank School, Burnley, last weekend.

The CCTV van is also being deployed in the area to try and catch those responsible for the problems on film, which will be shown to parents and used as evidence for Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO).

Officers urged members of the community, including headteachers, youth workers and local councillors, to support the crackdown and are planning to hold a meeting to discuss the issues.

Burnley Borough Chief Inspector Chris Bithell said: "The misery caused to residents and the damage caused to schools over recent weeks through mindless vandalism is appalling. The youths responsible should be ashamed.

"What we must all do now is fight back. It is time for us to work together to call a halt to this unruly behaviour.

"Where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, we will take action. We have enjoyed a great deal of success in securing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts and that will continue but we need help from others in order to effectively reduce the problem."

He said they were also trying to find out who was supplying alcohol to some of the youths causing the problems.

Test purchasing exercises have been carried out at off licences in both Burnley and Padiham and few were caught selling to underage youths.

Police believe it is being bought for them by older youths or adults, which is also an offence.