POLICE and shopkeepers are calling for somewhere to be built where youths can go after several windows were smashed and passers-by were intimidated by youngsters.

Shopkeepers on Park Parade, Hazlemere, have seen shopping trolleys and other items thrown through their windows by a large number of youths who are congregating in the area.

The situation worsened when police were called to a fracas involving teenagers in the Chungs Chinese takeaway on Wednesday last week.

In another incident over the Christmas period, a shoe recycling bin was thrown through a dry cleaner's window.

Karim Rajan, manager of Bentleys Dry Cleaners, said: "Somebody got a shoe recycling bin which was outside and they just threw it through the window. It is not nice having to come out on Christmas Day and clear up.

"We have kids hanging around here all the time. I know that other shops do have problems around here because this is the place where they all gather round."

The owner of another shop, who did not want to be named, said: "There are a few lads who gather around and cause problems."

PC Terry Campbell, based at Hazlemere Police Station, said: "We had problems a few years ago when I was a beat officer there. Now two years later you have got a new batch of youngsters and things are starting up again.

"They have been setting fire to some of the bins and there is minor vandalism. We are just getting the calls coming in about youngsters being there in large groups in the evenings.

"We are having to send out uniformed officers to move them on and I believe there isn't anywhere suitable in the area."

Wycombe district councillor Les Taylor, (Con, Hazlemere West) told a meeting of Hazlemere Parish Council on Tuesday: "There was a 12ft long, by 4ft wide, by 6ft high pile of bottles outside the recycling bins (near Park Parade). What I am afraid of is if the 30 to 50 youngsters who congregate on the parade started fighting with those bottles."

Youths in the area, who did not want to be named, said: "We are teenage lads and we don't want to stay in. You can't really go up to Wycombe. What else can we do?"