Residents, particularly in Denton and Eastside, are having to put up with excessive noise, litter, including empty bottles of alcohol being strewn all over the place, and rowdy groups of up to 60 teenagers swearing loudly.

Police have been out on regular patrols seizing significant amounts of alcohol ranging from alcopops to lager and bottles of vodka.

The age range of the youths involved is 13-17. The police neighbourhood specialist sergeant, Graeme Ross, said he was disappointed with parents who seemed to take no responsibility for their children.

He said: 'Why are children as young as 13 allowed to be out until gone midnight at the weekend? Not only does it pose a risk to the child but what do you think your children are doing out on the streets that late?

'Groups as large as 60 people have been gathering to drink to excess, damaging local parks, equipment and making residents' lives a misery.'

Letters will be sent to the parents of youths behaving in an anti social manner or those in possession of alcohol.

Banned After two letters, police will target them to enter an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement.

This will involve the children working with alcohol and drug misuse groups with regular police intervention.

If all this fails, police will make an application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order which could see the culprits banned from certain areas. Any breaches could end in a prison sentence.

Sgt Ross said a lot of police time was taken up in dealing with the youths' behaviour when it could be spent tackling more serious crime. He said it was time for parents to start taking responsibility and find out exactly where their children were going.

Things to look for, he said, include speaking with other parents if your child says they are staying at a friend's house, and checking if they have cash which could be spent on alcohol or spray cans.

He added: 'I am determined to deal as firmly and robustly as possible when tackling problem youths.

'Residents of Denton and Newhaven should not have to tolerate these mindless, drunken youths we are seeing more often on the streets.'