COMMUNITY leaders have cut down on teenage binge drinking in an area of the New Forest by upping the age customers can buy booze.

Off-licences all over the Waterside area agreed to stop selling alcohol to anyone aged under 21 as part of a crack down on anti-social behaviour led by Hythe police.

The Daily Echo reported earlier this year how problem teenagers were making life a misery for Waterside residents. Hundreds of youngsters were reported to be turning up to booze-fuelled gatherings at Gang Warily Recreation and Community Centre in Blackfield - often with alcohol supplied by their parents.

Inspector Mick Buckle of Hythe Police has cautiously hailed the new scheme a success.

He said: "Gang Warily was one of the problems we did have. That problem at this precise moment seems to have been solved. Incidents we have had there have diminished quite dramatically over the summer.

"I say that with caution because we have to wait until the schools go back to see if the solutions we have in place are sustainable.

"Crimes have reduced, antisocial behaviour has reduced and calls to police have reduced. We can't attribute all that to the alcohol initiative but it's a factor."

He said youth workers, extra education and new youth clubs were among other aspects of the strategy against rowdyism in the area.

Mary Whitcher, deputy manager of Unwins off licence on Long Lane, welcomed the initiative. She said: "We were always suspicious there were customers who could legally buy alcohol but they would give it to under age drinkers.

"Now we don't have to sell to people under 21 we have eliminated the need to serve those suspicious characters."

A spokeswoman for the Co-op supermarket said: "Co-op is committed to supporting the areas it serves and we are pleased to work with the police to put this initiative into process."