NEW sports programmes designed to lure troublemaking youngsters off the streets of two New Forest towns have been welcomed by councillors.

Lymington and Fordingbridge are the two black spots for youth nuisance being tackled by the planned activity schemes announced by district council Portfolio Holder for Crime and Disorder, Jeremy Heron.

Councillors from both towns had come to the full council meeting with similar tales of youthful vandalism, verbal abuse and other anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Paul Hickman, from Pennington, Lymington, said: "I have been receiving calls of distress from residents on a local estate for many months. I asked Cllr Heron if best use was being made of the new Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) to control youth nuisance here."

And Fordingbridge councillor Bob Hale said: "The portfolio holder will be aware there is a high degree of anxiety and stress being suffered in this town by residents in relation to anti-social behaviour and vandalism. What policies is he pursuing?"

Cllr Heron replied: "We are aware of the issues at Fordingbridge and our new Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) officer Jonathon Wood is meeting with police this week.

"Our sports development officer is involved in dealing with these issues from a recreational and leisure point of view. The football projects at Ringwood and Hythe have made a huge impact on directing youthful energies to more constructive use.

"We are offering training on how to deal with nuisance to all towns and parishes - it's a scheme called PRIME (Problem Resolution In a Multi-Agency Environ-ment), though to date only 13 parishes have expressed an interest."

Cllr Heron told Cllr Hickman that he had just approved the launching of youth-orientated sports activities at Lymington Recreation Centre, on similar lines to the tried-and-tested schemes at Ringwood and Hythe.

Cllr Hickman responded: "I am delighted. These activities will target young people in the area to draw them away from residential streets where they have been upsetting tenants and householders alike.

"The schemes already in operation at Applemore and Ringwood are a great success. The youngsters involved are enthusiastic and the level of neighbourhood nuisance has declined significantly.

"We in Pennington have been waiting a long time for this. Better late than never!"