PARENTS are being urged by the Mayor of Kirklees to take charge of their children!

Clr Donald Firth made his hard-hitting plea after more problems with vandals and yobs in the Holme Valley.

He has been working to help residents in New Mill, where yobs are allegedly making lives a misery.

And earlier this week, vandals wreaked havoc in Holmfirth, smashing floral displays and hanging baskets that had just been put up.

"It has got to stop," said Clr Firth.

"These yobs are making lives a misery and they seem to be one step ahead of the law.

"The police do what they can and respond to every call, but the problem is getting worse.

"The problems happen at all times of the evening and night, often as late as 4am and I want parents to ask themselves where their children are.

"These yobs are getting hold of alcohol and perhaps drugs and have no respect.

"The police have recovered literally hundreds of tins of beer from Victoria Park after confronting the youths".

People living in Royds Drive and Kirkroyds Lane, New Mill, say they are under siege from groups of youths swearing, dropping litter and even dealing drugs.

They say the police are doing their best, but their hands are tied.

Nancy Ray, who lives at Royds Drive, said: "We can't even open our windows because of the language.

"They kick balls about, ride bikes in front of cars and go in people's gardens. There are often cars pulling up and people dealing drugs.

"I pick their litter off the green every day.

"There are between eight and 22 of them, ranging from eight-year-olds to youths in their 20s.

"They are there from early afternoon until after midnight.

"The older people are petrified of them. This has been going on for 18 months and we are dreading the school holidays as it can only get worse."

Clr Firth has visited the streets to witness the problem this week.

He said the lives of residents are becoming a misery.

He said: "The situation is becoming unbearable.

"The police do their best, but to a certain extent their hands are tied because on the whole, these youngsters are not committing crimes.

"What we have to do now is look at what can be done from another angle."

Insp David Glover of Huddersfield's Neighbourhood Policing team, said: "We are aware of the problems.

"We have an operation in place to take further action."