A COUPLE out for quiet drink on Friday night were allegedly attacked by a gang of 13 to 15-year-old teenagers in Skipton.

The married Gargrave couple were walking through the bus station towards Efes Kebab House at about 10.30pm when individuals from a large gang of youths shouted abuse at them.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "The next thing at least 20 of them jumped my husband. It was just like a rugby scrum."

She added that they were punching him around the head, throwing cigarettes and shouting.

"I tried to pull a few off him. It was extremely frightening because they could have had a bottle or a knife. If they are like that at this age what will they be like when they are 20," she asked.

She added that the police were called but they had decided not to press charges.

Her husband went to hospital and was treated for a broken nose and swelling to his right eye and the right side of his face.

This incident appears to be just one of a growing number of offences being committed by youths in Craven.

Youth Action Officer Neil Hargreaves said since Operation Nipper was launched six weeks ago to target anti-social behaviour by young people, 20 letters had been sent to parents warning them about their child's behaviour.

Police have confiscated alcohol from 11 groups of teenagers in the streets - six of them in Skipton last weekend.

PC Hargreaves said this was particularly worrying as they had only been 25 cases of alcohol being confiscated in the whole of last year.

Among those children caught with alcohol were one 14-year-old who ended up in hospital and another who was found being sick in the gutter and was handed back to the care of her parents.

"Children are drinking younger," said PC Hargreaves. "But I think one of the main problems is what they are drinking. They are knocking back strong drinks that taste of orange juice but they have a lot of alcohol in them."

In response to this trend, Operation Tonic is being launched. It will involve police working in partnership with local off-licences and pubs to target underage drinkers.

"I have also been visiting local schools and giving presentations to groups of young people with regards to nuisance behaviour, youth justice and problems associated with alcohol," said PC Hargreaves.

"Hopefully this should educate them and allow them to make the right choices in the future."

Also during Operation Nipper, a 14-year-old Skipton youth received a harassment warning because of his continued anti-social behaviour towards an elderly resident. This means if the youth continues this behaviour, he will be arrested.

And in partnership with Craven District Council, an acceptable behaviour contract has been served on a Craven family, whose 15-year-old son continues to be anti-social within the community.

If this youth does not meet the standards required under the council's tenancy agreement, the family could be evicted.

PC Wayne Smith, Craven's community safety officer, has urged all social and private landlords to consider being part of the Operation Nipper scheme. They can contact him direct on 01423 539748.