Alcohol-related anti-social behaviour has dropped by 80 per cent in Longtown, according to town leaders.

A £2,000 grant raised through various community partners is being heralded as one of the main reasons for the success.

Residents have been impressed with the changes made.

John Vallely, 71 from Longtown, said: “We moved to Longtown in September so we can’t comment on previous problems but since we moved in I can’t believe how friendly and welcoming the people are.”

Local organisations and councillors collaborated with police and the Community Alcohol Partnership to offer opportunities to young people in Longtown.

Before this, critics suggested that there weren’t many community spaces for young people to meet and socialise without the offer of alcohol as a means of entertainment.

Reports to town leaders stated youngsters would take alcohol down to the riverside where they would then wreak havoc - shouting, and running through the streets.

Scott Adams, neighbourhood policing and community sergeant, who was the driving force behind the project, said: “It was important to find out what the youths wanted from their community and how the community could assist in building engagement and removing disassociations in the town.

“This work has culminated with match-funding through various streams to renovate a room in the Longtown Community Centre for the youths to use.

“This is multi-purpose, providing the centre with a room that can rented out to aid income with set times for youths per week. This will also fund activities and dedicated youth workers in the centre to help push forward the youths and local area.”

They collaborated with Brampton’s William Howard School, off-licences, and various other council and third-party organisations.

Val Tarbitt, councillor for Longtown, is passionate about the project and the changes that it has brought to the area.

She noted that there was a noticeable reduction in the number of young people sat drinking in bus stops, alleyways, and driveways.

“It had reached difficult proportions so that is why this has made a fantastic difference,” she said. “By actually involving young people in what kind of things they want.”

The money was put towards hiring a room in the community centre and getting somebody in to offer support to the young people.

Mrs Tarbitt added: “We do street painting, street art and looking at drugs, how to recognise them if you’re in a club and someone is spiking you.”