PARENTS are being told to rein in unruly youngsters to end a plague of drugs, alcohol and vandalism in Sandbach Park.

Gangs of youths congregating in the park are causing havoc through vandalism, drug-taking, drinking alcohol and starting fires.

Many people are too afraid to visit the beauty spot, with the situation described by park keeper Neil Pardoe as 'the worst in more than 20 years'.

Cllr Neville Price is appealing to parents to ensure it is not their children causing the misery.

He said: 'This is an appalling situation which could cause serious damage to the park and to the people who visit it. It is a disgusting mess and this happens on an all too-frequent basis.

'Parents have got to take ownership of who is doing this and do something to eradicate this problem. The responsibility has got to be with them. If youngsters are here late at night - some even stay out all night - their parents must know they are not coming home.'

Reports of bad behaviour include acts of cruelty to animals, sections of protective flooring near the park's skate ramp being ripped up, foul and threatening language, and youngsters having sex in public.

Sandbach firefighters were called to fires started by youths in the park this week, and children often have to play in the midst of litter left by gangs.

Mr Pardoe said: 'Every day I find broken glass, litter everywhere, sanitary towels, condoms, fires still alight, vandalism and clear evidence of drug-taking.

'It is soul-destroying. Many elderly and very young people are too intimidated to come on the park.

'Recently I keep finding dead hedgehogs. I later found out kids had been playing football with them. This is the type of people we are dealing with.'

Bob Hardiker, head of amenities and leisure at Congleton Borough Council, said: 'Wardens regularly patrol the park, but they have a large area to cover and can't be there all the time.'

'We need people to be respectful of the park,' he added. 'We don't want one sector of the public to spoil it for the rest, and hope parents will be aware of what their offspring are doing.'