Teens 'running wild' in Bedlington as police pledge 'robust' action for ringleaders

Locals fear teens are "running wild" as they gather in this Northumberland town late at night.

But police in Bedlington say they're cracking down on ringleaders who are making innocent members of the public feel unsafe.

Despite an overall reduction in criminal activity over the last year, over January and February locals say they've felt menaced by groups of teens hanging about in the streets and parks.

Police say teenagers are known to be travelling from across Northumberland to meet up in the town. With youngsters as young as 12 and as old as 19 sometimes meeting in the same parks and public places, officers say younger children are at risk of coming into contact with alcohol and drugs.

ChronicleLive visited Bedlington to find out what was happening, and sat down with Northumbria Police to find out what's being done about it.

Outside supermarkets in Bedlington, many shoppers said they'd noticed a recent spike in groups of teenagers causing disruption around the town.