EXTRA police patrols are being implemented in Bold Venture Park, Darwen, during half-term in a bid to stamp out any trouble from gangs of teenagers.

Sergeant Andrea Bradbury, of Darwen police, said they were increasing patrols all this week and at the weekend.

A supporters' group for the park which was formed last year has been trying to cut down on trouble caused by teenagers in the park.

In a bid to to stop gangs from gathering outside the gates, the group has arranged for rhododendron bushes surrounding the park to be cut down.

But Sunnyhurst Ward councillor Dave Smith said that gangs were starting to gather in the park again.

He said: "I believe that gangs were gathering there last week.

"A resident on Manor Road contacted me to say that kids were now gathering around the weather station in the park.

"Obviously, I'm pleased that the police are doing something about it and putting on these extra patrols. Instead of the kids gathering around the main gates, which used to be the problem, they now seem to have moved their meeting place to where the weather station is."

But chairman of the supporters group, David Hackett, said the problem of teenagers hanging around the park had been "much improved" since the group was formed.

He said: "We've now a hard core of people supporting us and Janet Anderson MP has said she is interested in coming to the meetings.

"So it is working and there are definitely fewer problems than there were when we first started."

He added that the group was planning to stimulate people's interest in the park by staging an exhibition of the park's history at Darwen Library in June.

He said he had already received some old postcards of the park but would welcome any other contributions.

Mr Hackett can be contacted on 01254 707414.