A £2,000 grant has slashed alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour among young people in Longtown by 80 per cent, a meeting has heard.

The cash was awarded to Arthuret Parish Council by the top tier authority’s local committee for Carlisle in support of their drive to tackle the issue.

It was part of a tranche of funding handed out through its 0-19 community grant programme which helps community projects for young people across the district.

Val Tarbitt, Conservative councillor for Longtown, said the money had made a “big difference” to her ward.

She added: “A verbal report about the £2,000 allocated to Arthuret Parish Council for tackling issues around alcohol misuse with young people has shown that, since this time last year, this project and the money with which we have supported it has actually reduced the antisocial behaviour calls to the police by 80 per cent.

“Thank you for that from Longtown because it has made a big difference.”

The Rock Youth Project was given £1,000 toward equipment costs; Beaumont Parish Hall £530 toward a summer play scheme; and Dalston Junior FC £500 for pitch hire.

Friends of Brook Street School benefitted from £1,750 toward the cost of performing arts activities outside of school and Cumbria Family Support received the same amount toward the running of its Carlisle Contact Centre.

The Border City Amateur Boxing Club got £1,500 towards new equipment, Carlisle City Sky under 12s received £500 towards transport cost to the airport, and the Border Explorer Scout Unite received £1,000 for equipment.