FURIOUS residents called for tougher police measures in a desperate bid to combat hooliganism in Yeadon.

More than 100 turned out to a meeting this week to confront the police with evidence of intimidation and vandalism allegedly caused by youths in the town.

But police have denied the problem is worse than other places and have said earlier calls for evidence from residents have drawn a blank.

At Tuesday's angry meeting at Yeadon Town Hall, demands were made for zero tolerance in dealing with individuals who are abusive and threatening.

Irate shopkeepers called for CCTV cameras to be installed on the high street and asked for a greater police presence to deal with burglaries and vandalism.

The meeting, called by Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Aireborough), was in response to police comments earlier this month that Yeadon does not have a serious problem with anti-social behaviour.

It was attended by representatives from the police, the anti-social behaviour unit, the youth service and the deputy headteacher of Benton Park School, Richard Hoban.

Sergeant Colin Haigh of the Pudsey and Weetwood Community Policing Team opened the meeting by saying that crime figures were down by 25 per cent in the last month for the Yeadon and Rawdon area.

And he said that after placing an appeal in the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer on May 15 asking people to call with any information regarding anti-social behaviour, he had not received any calls.

In response residents said they could not provide names of troublemakers if they did not know them.

Coun Makham Thakur (Con, Aireborough) said he had seen people picking up used needles from the street and that drug abuse in Yeadon was the biggest anti-social behaviour problem the community had to deal with.

And a representative from St John's Church said that youths gathered outside the church and she believed many were using drugs.

She said: "We don't mind them being there - where else can they go? If they are there then at least we can talk to them, but we just don't want them to damage the area."

The gangs of youths were also blamed for skateboarding in residential areas, drinking, leaving litter and being verbally abusive.

But the police said they were powerless to deal with them if they hadn't committed a crime.

Coun Latty said plans were underway for a skate park to be built in the area and hoped this may alleviate some of the problems.

Youngsters coming out of school during free periods were also blamed for trouble in the town.

Benton Park deputy head Mr Hoban said: "Some of these kids are very good kids. Individually they are okay but in a group they may be intimidating."

Coun Latty said: "I had hoped the meeting might have been a little more positive. There were a lot of complaints but nothing specific. There were a lot of different issues raised.

"I can understand if people don't feel like much was achieved but it will no doubt accelerate our efforts to get CCTV cameras in the high street.

"It appeared that the police believe the anti-social behaviour problem in Yeadon is more perceived than real."