COUNCILLORS in the New Forest are being urged to do more to keep young people off the streets.

The district council has launched a crackdown on troublemakers in the shape of acceptable behaviour contracts which can result in courts slapping anti-social behaviour orders on those who do not heed warnings.

But at a meeting of its policy and resources committee at Lyndhurst, former council leader John Coles said: "I am very keen for this to start, but I think we ought to do more ourselves."

He said he had been "trying for ages" to get some activities for young people up and running at Calshot.

"All I am asking for is a couple of goalposts and some land to be levelled off so we can provide the kids with a kickabout area, but nothing is happening.

"We ought to do something for these youngsters before they get involved in this anti-social behaviour, but we seem to be dragging our heels," he said, adding that he was also keen for the idea of a youth club for Calshot to be looked into.

There were also calls from former council chairman Derek Burdle for consideration to be given to providing facilities to keep young people out of trouble by using money paid in by companies which have built residential developments in the district.

But crime and disorder portfolio holder Peter Cummings pointed out that efforts were being made to try to provide activities and a scheme had already been launched in conjunction with the police at Ringwood.

He also said he believed the acceptable behaviour contracts would work and added: "We are finally in a position to start taking action to deal with unruly behaviour, especially on housing estates.

"We know it is not going to be an easy matter and we are not expecting to deal with hundreds and thousands.

"But the first few should start coming up very quickly."

Cllr Cummings added that the orders were written in the kind of language young people would understand.