'Stand off' between residents and young people leads to police crackdown on anti social behaviour at Burnley beauty spot

Police were called to Hurstwood after several residents challenged a group of young people arriving in the village one evening.

PC Rachael Carroll, who is the neighbourhood police officer for the area covering Hurstwood and Cliviger, said: "This incident brought what has been an ongoing problem with groups of up to 40 young people gathering, usually on Friday evenings.

"They were arriving by taxi and then congregating around the car park and along the path and woods that leads to the reservoir.

"Residents were upset because they have been generally causing a nuisance, leaving litter behind, including discarded nitrous oxide cannisters."

The groups have also been drinking alcohol at the popular beauty spot and lighting fires to keep warm.

PC Carroll and her team visited the homes of around 13 young people involved in the gatherings to speak to their parents.

She added: "We wanted to speak to them about not gathering in large groups due to social distancing restrictions and also because it has been reported that this could be one of the ways for the coronavirus to be transmitted.

PC Carroll said the feedback from all the parents was 'brilliant' with not one negative response adding: "They were very supportive and understanding."

Neighbourhood officers have been regularly patrolling the area and land owners United Utilities have worked with the force by providing extra security.

Despite the issues PC Carroll said that the majority of young people she had dealt with throughout the pandemic had been 'fantastic' and she understood that as lockdown restrictions are easing they crave some freedom.

PC Carroll added: "We hope the problem will ease as the schools return but we will still be targeting the area and working with the ranger to discuss ways of combatting other problems there including petty criminal damage and graffiti."