HUNDREDS of angry residents have come face to face with police over teenage vandalism and anti-social behaviour plaguing their Hampshire village.

People used a public meeting to call for an action plan to solve the catalogue of nuisance offences in North Baddesley.

They claimed alcohol was to blame for the problems.

Romsey's new police inspector Peter Funnell, Eastleigh police crime reduction officer Barbara White and Test Valley Borough Council community safety manager Melvin Hartley were invited to the meeting to discuss the issues.

Insp Funnell said a lot of police had been taken away from the area to help with the Milly Dowler murder inquiry.

But a mobile police station would be placed in North Baddesley on Friday and Saturday nights during November in a bid to curb under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Insp Funnell added: "To prosecute someone is a last resort. We would much rather get them to behave themselves and conduct themselves in a civil manner.

"But, if people need to be prosecuted, then they will be."

Broad Lane resident Vic Colverson said he and other residents would stand up to the group of youths hanging around the area but wanted more police support.

The 48-year-old said: "What we need is to know that we are not going to be prosecuted if we stand up for ourselves.

"We can stand up for ourselves but we are too frightened to because of the law."

Another resident claimed the village was becoming like parts of Southampton.

She said: "I don't want this village becoming another Millbrook or Shirley Warren."

Teenager Neil Donnison, of Nutburn Road, said youths needed more support from adults in the area.

The 16-year-old added: "It's not just you who are suffering. I've got friends who are too scared to go out because they are getting attacked.

"Youth activities are the way to go, but nobody is supporting them. I don't like being labelled as a yob, because I'm not."

Test Valley Borough Councillor for North Baddesley, Steve Tosier, who organised the event said another meeting would be held in six months time to check progress on the problems.