FORGET barbed wire fences, beefy security guards and ferocious dogs.

Bosses at a Southampton building site have discovered a revolutionary way of keeping the criminals out - employ a youth worker to divert them with other activities.

Gary Shawyer has been given the job of warding off young vandals from Millbrook's new health centre under construction in Windermere Avenue, near Newlands School.

It is a spot that's been the repeated target of yob crime over the years - but now, in the first project of its kind in the area, youngsters are being headed off with a carrot rather than a stick.

"If we can give these kids something to do it will lower the amount of anti-social behaviour and vandalism at the site," said Gary, 37, who is employed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Youth Options.

"It is revolutionary in that respect. It isn't going to work all the time, but if we get a percentage of people we do help then it's a success."

Gary has set up a programme of projects to engage about 30 youngsters who have been spotted by police causing damage on the site.

Football coaching, DJ workshops and ten-pin bowling trips follow for the teens, some of whom are under antisocial behaviour orders and come from problem families.

The activities have been stepped up during the school half-term holiday when the building site would normally become a magnet for bored youngsters.

Phil Heath, from Southampton Primary Care Trust, which is responsible for the new health centre, said: "This really seems to be working so far and vandalism has been lower than expected at the site.

"It's quite a radical way of tackling security, but it seems to be better for us and better for the youngsters."

The £3m facility, which will see everything from dentists to GPs to Sure Start workers under one roof, is due to be finished in December.