THE VICAR of Newport has compared the town to the Wild West and called for community effort to reign in the late-night rowdies.

Canon Stephen Palmer blamed scepticism and the fragmentation of society for the problems, notably outside the McDonald's restaurant in St James' Street.

Canon Palmer, who is a member of the Newport Community Forum, said the organisation could play an important part in turning things around.

He told the recent forum meeting: "If you are going to deal with the Wild West outside McDonald's we have to encourage young people to see this as the place where they live and belong -- and where they don't soil their own nest."

People were increasingly rootless, uncommitted to society, individualistic and sceptical of authority, he said.

"I think forums are about giving people a sense of place, about helping them say, 'This is where I belong' and encourage a willingness to participate.

"The thing about scepticism is that all authorities are rubbished, including head teachers, police and county councillors.

"Wouldn't it be nice to occasionally visit the pages of local media and see County Hall and the police and the authorities not being slagged off?

"I think we would probably get more out of our politicians and officers at County Hall if there was affirmation that people were doing their best and the forum could be part of that."

Forum chairman and IW Council leader Cllr Shirley Smart said she hoped the membership would be broadened and it would be able to draw in more funding for community projects.