POLICE officers moving on teenagers from a children's play park in Baxenden have not only had to deal with abuse from the youths, but also complaints from their parents.

PC Clare Wall and her accompanying community support officer regularly have to ask groups of older children to leave the play area of the council-owned park in Hollins Lane, as it is only designed for children under 12.

An adjacent activity area, with benches and sports nets, is for older children.

PC Wall said: "A lot of parents of the younger children are too frightened to take their kids on the park because they are scared of getting abuse from the older ones.

"They usually sit on the swings and are just talking they aren't committing any offences, but they appear frightening.

"There have been a couple of occasions where we have been abused verbally by the youths, and this will not be tolerated just because they are children.

"If we see any youths in the park we will be asking for ID to prove how old they are, and then they will be asked to leave."

One parent, whose 14-year-old daughter refused to leave the park, wrote to Baxenden ward councillor John Griffiths to complain that she should have been allowed to stay.

However, he is supporting PC Wall's actions.

Coun Griffiths said: "I once saw eight teenagers clambering all over the climbing frame.

"It is built for smaller kids and will get damaged, or there could be an accident.

"We don't want to spoil anyone's fun, but it is only fair to both parties that they use the area of the park that is applicable to them."