Nuisance youths are being threatened with the ultimate deterrent - their parents.

Crowds of teenagers who gather in the Rayleigh district over the summer holidays could be reported to their mums and dads, police warned today.

The pioneering scheme to rid the streets of nuisance youths is being spearheaded by PC Caroline Bunt and PC Dafydd Hughes in time for the summer holidays.

If a youngster is seen by the police to be acting as a nuisance then names will be taken and letters sent out to parents, informing them of their child's behaviour.

If a child is reported on a third occasion then the police will pay a home visit to their parents.

PC Bunt said: "The idea is for parents to be aware of where their children are and whether they are causing a nuisance. If officers are called out to jobs they will take the names of the nuisance youths and letters will go out to parents."

Rayleigh police say large gangs of youths are congregating on streets and creating an atmosphere of fear.

PC Bunt added: "You get groups of 30 to 40 kids hanging around and it can be intimidating for people to have to walk past, especially old ladies, even if the youngsters are not doing anything."

The police also face the problem of teenagers drinking on the streets under-age, with adults actually buying the alcohol for them. The new scheme aims to tackle this problem by making parents aware if their child is caught drinking or causing damage to property.

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