Gangs of youths roaming the streets at night have become an increasingly common sight.

But neighbours in a town in Cornwall have decided enough is enough.

After a barrage of vandalism and antisocial behaviour they came up with a simple solution to cut down crime - keep kids at home.

Curfew: A town in Cornwall has come up with a simple solution to cut down antisocial behaviour - keep kids off the streets at night (posed by models)

It may seem old-fashioned but the scheme has been hailed a success with neighbours reporting they feel safer at night.

Letters were sent to 600 in the Close Hill area of Redruth asking parents to keep their youngsters home in the evenings.

A voluntary curfew was enforced of 9pm for 10-16-year-olds and 8pm for under 10s.

Ann Mitchell of the local Helping Hands Residents' Association, said: 'The scheme has started to work already.

The town centre of Redruth in Cornwall. Children in the Close Hill area have been given a curfew to reduce crime and vandalism

'There are less problems with children late at night.

'Some evenings we have seen parents in the park with their children, which has never happened before. That is what we are trying for - to get parents to be responsible for their children.'

The voluntary scheme has been introduced by Redruth's neighbourhood Devon and Cornwall policing team with the support of other agencies and residents.

The scheme called Operation Goodnight  will run over the school summer holiday period until September.

Problems in the area had included elderly people having stones thrown at their windows and balls kicked at their doors and mindless vandalism such as boys climbing lampposts to turn off lights.

Mrs Mitchell said: 'The majority of youngsters are lovely, but there is a handful which are the problem,

'It does not help that the area is one of the most deprived in Cornwall.'

Redruth town councillor Clive Bray, said: 'I think more parents are taking more responsibility for their children than before.

'It has had an impact slightly ahead of the launch tomorrow, a lot of parents have been talking about it - the general consensus is it is a good idea.

'If it works I hope it could be rolled out across the country, it would be an advantage to everyone.'

The initiative aims at targeting a 'minority of persistent offenders' responsible for things like criminal damage and foul and abusive language.

Neighbourhood beat manager Pc Marc Griffin said the scheme arose from feedback to a successful dispersal order which operated in the town from October to January this year.

From tomorrow night multi agency patrols will be out on the streets.

They will talk to parents and carers of any young people found out after the curfew times.

'If it is felt that the child is at risk or remains vulnerable then referrals to other appropriate agencies will be made as necessary,' said Pc Griffin.

He said there was an 'ongoing problem' among some of the youngsters with low level criminality including assaults and damage to vehicles and houses which had a 'high emotional impact.'

Pc Griffin said the thrust of the police led, multi agency scheme was 'putting the responsibility back into the family home.'

He said for some months local people had expressed concern over reports of children as young as eight being out, unsupervised, late into the night.

'Young people are at an increased risk of becoming either a victim or offender of crime and or anti-social behaviour if left unsupervised during the evenings,' said Pc Griffin.

'If any youngsters were seen out late a night they would be talked to by officers and asked why they were on the streets.'

He added there would be a follow-up telephone call to parents, possibly followed by a visit to explain the scheme.

Activities such as football coaching sessions will be organised by the fire brigade and events for the youngsters are being planned by Redruth North Partnership.