POLICE patrols have been stepped up after residents complained about drunken youths in Wantage.

Police have received reports of between 30 and 35 teenagers intimidating people living around Manor Road Memorial Park on Friday nights.

Some residents believe the number of incidents has risen following the closure of the town’s Sweatbox youth centre.

Wantage mayor Patrick O’Leary said: “We’re talking about kids as young as 14 and 15 drinking alcohol and hanging around in big groups.

“I’ve spoken with people intimidated by them and we just hope the youth centre will get back open soon.”

Sweatbox was closed temporarily last December after some of its members were found to be turning up drunk.

The Oxfordshire County Council-run youth centre is expected to reopen later this month.

Wantage police Chief Inspector Andy Boyd said: “We’ve had reports of big groups of teenagers and have put at least seven officers on patrol in the area on Friday nights.”

County council spokesman Louise Mendonca said the council had hoped to reopen the youth centre this week.

She added: “Because the centre manager has not been able to book bands in time, it’s likely to be the end of the month instead.”