CHILDREN as young as 11 are loitering and drinking in Darwen parks, leaving families with young children afraid to use them.

For eight weeks community support officers (PCSOs) have been out in Darwen on Friday and Saturday nights and have found groups of up to 60 youngsters drinking and causing a nuisance.

During this time they seized six bottles of wine, more than 30 cans or bottles of cider, and over 200 cans or bottles of lager, as well as bottles of vodka and alcopops.

The PCSOs received phone calls from residents disturbed by noise or from families whose children want to use the play equipment but cannot because it is surrounded by youths.

PCSO Gareth Woods, said: "They are aged from 11 or 12 and, although at that age they are not usually drinking, there are some that are. Occasionally there's criminal damage but generally it's being rowdy, loud and noisy.

"If they were sitting in a park and not drinking it's not a problem but once they are drinking it's a problem. We have families who don't want to go in the parks because of gang."

Youngsters are congregating in Whitehall Park, in Sunnyhurst Woods and at Blacksnape playing fields where £100,000 is being spent to create new football fields for the community.

Members of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods went on patrol with police officers a few weeks ago in a bid to curb criminal damage caused by boozing youngsters.

PCSO Woods said that the true amount of alcohol obtained by youngsters - which will all be poured away - was twice as much as that seized, because all open cans and bottles were poured away at the scene.

He said: "This is all sealed. Any opened stuff we pour away and that probably matches what we have got here."

On average at least half a dozen youth referrals were being handed out every weekend. Youngsters' details were put on a database and letters were sent to their parents.

If the same young person has another two youth referrals within the a six-month period, he must sign an acceptable behaviour contract.