A RYEDALE village has found the answer to dealing with bored teenagers and anti-social behaviour - it is helping the youngsters to help themselves.

Complaints of vandalism and nuisance behaviour had been made regularly by residents of Slingsby to the police.

Taking a positive approach, Sgt Cliff Edens, Ryedale's community safety officer in the police service, decided to organise a series of what he called problem-solving meetings.

The result was the involvement of the community education service in the district, and detached youth work project worker Dave Fincham, as well as residents and the young people themselves.

Top of the list for the young people was a youth club and the first step towards achieving it was staged last week when a fundraising fun day was held at the village hall and nearby playing field.

Laura Pearson, 14, said: "Teenagers have been blamed for vandalism in the village but it just isn't true. There has been a breakdown in communications in the village. The young people are bored and our aim is to set up a youth club."

The pretty village of Slingsby is also a meeting place for youngsters from neighbouring Barton-le-Street, Broughton, and even some who travel from Malton, six miles away.

Detached youth workers Mr Fincham and Julie Stonehouse arranged the fun day, which proved a great success.

"People in Slingsby are willing to help the young people," said Julie.

"Ideally, they want a club in the village hall where they can meet, use computers, watch television or become involved in other activities. There is a lot of parental support."

There was further backing for the young generation from local businesses, which provided prizes for raffles and tombolas at the fun day to raise money.

Sgt Edens said nearly 40 people attended the first problem-solving meeting in March.

"We have adopted a problem-orientated policy," he said.

A month after the initial meeting, there was a further get-together when the young people had their say.

The community has become involved, said Sgt Edens, and the parish council is also being urged to help.

"The idea of the fun day was to enable the young people to put something back into the community and the event was well-supported by parents and grandparents, as well as the youngsters themselves. It was all very positive."

Much of the initial trouble began on Mischief Night, last November, traditionally the night before Bonfire Night.

"Mischief spilled over into criminal damage," said Sgt Edens, "which caused a lot of upset in the village because there were incidents of paint being sprayed on cars and windows in the public telephone kiosk being smashed."

He has backed the idea of a youth club to provide what he describes as "diversional activities".

"We are looking at solving problems in the long-term. I have been very encouraged by the feedback."

But the real success, he says, is that incidents of reported crime in recent months have been non-existent.

When trouble was at its height, Sgt Edens sent friendly letters to all parents whose children may have been in the vicinity of incidents, asking them to help combat the behaviour. The response was excellent, he said.

Another meeting is to be held at the village hall on Monday, June 9, at 7pm.

"We are dealing with quality of life issues - for the young people as well as for the residents of Slingsby themselves, and it seems to be working."

Updated: 14:26 Wednesday, June 04, 2003